Standard Malay vs Brunei Malay

For this semester I’m taking AE 3303 Language issues in Brunei. One of the issues discussed are Standard Malay vs Brunei Malay. Brunei Malay dialect has its own uniqueness that makes it different from Standard Malay. The issues are then, which of them is more prominent? 

When my lecturer raised up this question today, first thing pop out of my head was that it seems Standard Malay is more prominent due to some several factors. First is due to the requirement of Brunei scholarship. It is a compulsory for the applicants to pass Standard Malay. This requirement is needed to get a government scholarship in order to pursue further studies abroad.

And the second reason is because for the foreigners (non-Bruneians) one of the requirements for them to get their Bruneian citizenship is that they must possess good proficiency of Standard Malay.   Eventhough, I can’t deny their acquisition of Brunei Malay is also being tested as well. Moreover Standard Malay is also being used widely for formal occasion such as in news, and official government letter and Sultan’s Titah. Indeed, the bilingual policy used in the education system of Brunei in 1985 and SPN21 in 2009 prioritises the use of Standard Malay and English and the system requires students to have good command of both languages.

Nevertheless, Brunei Malay may also prominent to some extent because it is one of the most dominant used in Brunei. Brunei Malay becomes the medium of communication and an important code in Brunei, since it acts as lingua franca among Bruneians. Moreover from my experiences Brunei Malay is also being regularly used in official events such as in the meeting sessions between the government officers this includes the ministers and royalty members. Apart from this reasons, I am still clueless. 

So is it true that perhaps in terms of formality, Standard Malay is more prominent than Brunei Malay?

Have your say.