As Malaysian citizens, mastering the Malay language is both a cultural obligation and a national duty. Although Malay is Malaysia's national language and widely spoken, some individuals may lose proficiency after studying or working abroad.

Malaysian Woman Claims She’s No Longer Fluent in Malay

Recently, a local TikTok user shared an embarrassing experience she had upon returning from the United Kingdom, highlighting the difficulties she faced with her declining Malay language skills.

Incident Sparks Social Media Buzz

The incident quickly drew attention and sparked lively discussions on social media.

Heavy Reliance on Google Translate

The student revealed that her Malay proficiency had diminished to the point where she had to rely heavily on the Google Translate app for communication. This was especially surprising given that she had only been in the UK for a year.

Reactions from Netizens

The story elicited a range of reactions. Many netizens were quick to criticise her, suggesting she was being overly dramatic for losing touch with her mother tongue after just a year abroad. One user commented, "I stayed in the UK for 7 years and I'm still fluent in Bahasa Melayu...?"

Despite the criticism, some offered supportive and empathetic responses. One commenter reassured her, "Your feeling is valid, dear. Don’t let these comments hurt you. You'll settle back in, but keep positive attitudes like being punctual."

Another user highlighted an important aspect, noting, "Everyone is missing the point that she said she's embarrassed about it, which means she knows this isn’t something to be proud of."