What language should official state letters be in, according to the Johor Sultan?

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Official State Letters in Johor Must Be in Malay

According to the Sultan of Johor, all official letters involving the state government or local authorities in Johor must be written in the national language, Malay. This directive was issued following criticism of an Iskandar Puteri city councillor who had used English and Chinese in an official communication. The Sultan emphasised that official correspondence utilising the state's letterhead should exclusively be in Malay, aligning with the national language policy.
Adherence to National Language Policy

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar explicitly stated that official letters pertaining to the state government or local councils must be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia. This follows an incident where an official letter, inviting residents to a dialogue concerning the demolition of road barriers, was issued in both English and Chinese. The Sultan underscored that such practice deviates from established norms, noting that official letters have historically not been issued in multiple languages.
Criticism of a City Councillor

The Johor ruler voiced his displeasure with an Iskandar Puteri city councillor for authoring an official letter in English and Chinese. Sultan Ibrahim issued a stern warning, suggesting that any official found incapable of performing their duties in the prescribed manner should consider resigning. He reiterated the importance of using Malay for all official communications within the state's administrative framework.
Prime Minister's Stance on Official Language

The Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had previously reinforced the federal government's commitment to using Bahasa Malaysia for all official matters. This statement, made in Parliament on August 14, reiterated the established policy. While acknowledging that translations into languages like English might be necessary for specific contexts, such as accommodating foreigners at official events, the primary language for official government business remains the national language.

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What language should official state letters be in, according to the Johor Sultan?

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