An actress has reignited the debate over the relevance of the Malay language after she said she felt 'stupid' speaking the language as she picked up an award at the Malaysian International Film Festival.
The comments by Sharifah Amani on Friday outraged Malay nationalists and defenders of the language. In her acceptance speech after being named best actress, Amani said: 'I would like to make my speech in English because I sound stupid when I speak in Malay.'
It may have been just a throwaway line, but the response was immediate.
'Her words have hurt Malays and belittled their culture,' said Rais Yatim, the culture and arts minister. 'She should not have said those words.
'Even many foreigners can speak Malay, why can't she,' he added. 'It is her mother tongue.'
Amani has apologised profusely, but the clamour has only escalated.