The Importance of Mastering Bahasa Indonesia in the Globalization Era

Since the very outset when UU No. 29/2009 was legalised, it has caused quite a stir among Indonesian law practioners. By no means of disregarding the true purpose of the drafters which was explicitly said in part four of the act, per se, in which is for the “government to gradually promote Indonesian language (bahasa Indonesia) to go international”[1], some provisions are still proven to be debatable.

Pro or contra one may be, one thing is certain. UU No. 29/2009 can now be legally enforced. This means like it or not, Indonesian language are mandatory to be used in official speeches, as the main language for teaching in classes nationwide, and even when drafting a legal contract.

Apart from UU No. 29/2009, Indonesian government had also produced PP No. 26/1998 about the regulation in naming a Perseroan Terbatas P.T. (company) way back then. One of its provisions explicitly says “prioritizing the use of Indonesian language” as the name of a PT.

However PP No. 26/1998 as a matter of fact, was not the only one emphasizing the use of Indonesian language in Indonesian’s history. A number of similar legislative frameworks have been produced in the past few years, waving the flag to demand the use of Indonesian language in  numerous occasions, including the implementing regulations of UU No 29/2009 itself. For example Surat Edaran Menteri Negara BUMN No SE-12/MBU/2009, Peraturan Menteri Perdagangan No 22/M-DAG/PER/5/2010 Tahun 2010, Perpres No 16/2010, Surat Direktur Jenderal Peraturan Perundang-Undangan No PPE.2.PP.01.02-832 Tahun 2009, Permendagri No 55/2010, and Surat Menteri Hukum Dan Hak Asasi Manusia No M.HH.UM.01.01-35 Tahun 2009. This lead us to a bigger frame of a question, “What could possibly triggered the government to issue such regulations?”

Waves of globalization has also infused into various aspects of life in Indonesia, as same as any part of the current modern world. This inevitable development leads to a situation which has made an extensive inclination of English use in commercial ads, labels, international schools, public places sporadically in Indonesia. Such has grown quite a fear that eventually people will tend to use English more than Indonesian language itself for the sake of a manner of fashion.

However so, it is also to bear in mind that not every Indonesian citizen understand oral or written English in the most adequate way required by today’s globalization. Former Vice Chief of the Supreme Court Judicial Division, Mariana Sutadi, once elaborated that for example article 31 in UU No 29/2009 about the mandatory to draft a copy of contract in Indonesian language, is more likely intended for Indonesian citizens’ advantage, as to protect them from a misunderstanding when taking part in contracts written in foreign language[2].

Although for many reasons English proficiency is truly important, nevertheless to be able to speak Indonesian language in the right way is also essential. After all, as said in article 25 UU No 29/2009, it all comes back to Indonesian language being our “nation’s identity, national pride, a pathway to unity…”.