PBMUM

University of Malaya Malay Language Society Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya
Leader	Muhammad Jailani Abu Talib
Founded	January 29, 1955
Headquarters	Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ideology	Malay language, Intellectualism, Justice Islamist,
Official colors	Green, White, Black

Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (Malay for University of Malaya Malay Language Society) (abbreviated PBMUM) is a Malay language, literature and culture oriented student body that has played an active role in the development of the modern Malay language in Malaysia and Singapore.

History

PBMUM was established as Persekutuan Bahasa Melayu in Singapore on 29 January 1955 with twenty seven members.The formulation of PBMUM was made a success with the support of lecturers and undergraduates of the faculty of literature. These individuals include Lukman Musa, Noh Abdullah, Tahir Abdul Rahman and Fatimah Hasyim. However, the main idea of forming such a body came from Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz and Pendeta Za'ba who were firm in the ideas of forming a Malay student body that would play a role in the development of Malay literature and language. With much support from individuals and undergraduates in the university, PBMUM's membership steadily rose from 202 in 1956 to 721 in 1965. At the end of academic session 1970/1971, PBMUM's membership rose to a strength of 3123 undergrates, thus making its mark as one of the most influential bodies in the history of language development in Malaysia.

In 1959, following the set up of two autonomous divisions in 1959 with one campus being in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur, PBM's operation shifted its focus to Malaysia. Subsequently, the name was later officially changed to Persatuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (PBMUM) in 1969.

Mission statement

PBMUM is committed towards the development of the Malay culture and language as can be observed in the society's mission statement (1969)^[1] :

1. Develop the Malay language and promote its use

2. Contribute effectively towards the development of Malay literature.

3. Develop the arts and culture of the Malay society.

4. Promote and conduct research in the field of Malay culture and art.

5. To be well-informed of the ongoings of the Malay language and work hard towards an effective contribution.

Contributions

The core of PBMUM's principle in 1954 was to persuade the Malayan government to recognise the Malay language as its national language.^[2] Recognising PBMUM's voice and struggle, the Majlis Undangan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Malayan Council) agreed on 31 May 1955 to take the Malay language as Malaya's national language. In 1969 however, PBMUM restructured its policy to also undertake the issue of using the Malay language as Malaysia's language medium of education and included the need to play a role in the development of the nation.^[3] PBMUM believes that it represents the voice of the people. PBMUM stands strongly against racism and upholds the view that its primary principle is in the development of the nation. Of this, Kochiko Mazilo believes that PBMUM's approach was not based on emotions and radicalism alone but acts as a platform that supports the government's aspiration. The use of the Malay language as well as the educational policy that it upheld stands true as the beliefs and want of the public.

Notable Leaders

PBMUM is also notably led by various individuals who later turn out to play an important role in the development of the nation. Among the notable figures who has led PBMUM includes revered figures in the academic, social and political circle such as Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Awang Had Salleh, Dato' Dr. Nordin Selat, Dato' Nordin Abd. Razak, Dr. Mohd. Fuad Zarkashi, Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Associate Professor Dr. Nuwairi Haji Khaza'ai (Academician) , Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister) and Datuk Ahmad Shaberry Cheek (Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister).

Leadership

1955/1956 - Datuk Lukman Musa

1958/1959 - Syed Husin Ali

1960/1961 - Dato' Mohd. Yusof Hitam

1961/1962 - Datuk Hassan Ahmad

1963/1964 - Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Awang Had Salleh

1964/1965 - Mohd Noorani Kamarur

1965/1966 - Dato' Dr. Nordin Selat

1966/1967 - Ismail Daud

1967/1968 - Dr. Sanusi Osman

1968/1969 - Harun Awal

1969/1970 - Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim

1970/1971 - Dato' Nordin Abdul Razak

1971/1972 - Mahathir Mohd. Khir

1972/1973 - Zulkifli Hj. Ahmad

1973/1974 - Ab. Aziz Shamsudin

1979/1980 - Associate Professor Dr. Nuwairi Haji Khaza'ai

1980/1981 - Dr. Mohd. Fuad Zarkashi

1981/1982 - Hashim Pajian

1983/1984 - Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah

1984/1985 - Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah

1984/1985 - Wan Ahmad Ibrahim

1985/1986 - Fauzi Mat Nor

1988/1989 - Masnil Shahrir

1989/1990 - Rohaizad Ahmad Fatanah

1990/1991 - Abdul Rahman

1991/1992 - Fazli Hisahak

1992/1993 - Ahmad Fakhruddin Hussain

1993/1994 - Ahmad Nazari Sulaiman

1994/1995 - Abdul Ghaffar Yahya

1995/1996 - Md. Arfizal Md. Ariffin

1996/1997 - Jamarussalam

1997/1998 - S. Ramlee Shamsuddin

1998/1999 - S. Ramlee Shamsuddin

1999/2000 - Mohd Nizam Shaari

2000/2001 - Mohd Yusrin Mohamed Yusof

2001/2002 - Wan Azlee Wan Abdullah

2002/2003 - Khazali Mohd. Din

2003/2004 - Othman Yunus

2005/2006 - Zulkifli Bin Mohamad

2006/2007 - Hilmy Rizal

2007/2008 - Arif Atan

2008/2009 - Wan Mohamad Wasif bin Wan Mohamad

2009/2010 - Muhammad Jailani Abu Talib

2010/2011 - Muhammad Jailani Abu Talib

Reference

1. ^ Mohd, Fazil (1969). PBMUM 69/70. Persekutuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya, University of Malaya. 
2. ^ Abdul Rahman, Haji Abdullah (1997). Pemikiran Islam di Malaysia : Sejarah dan Aliran. Jakarta : Gema Insani Press. ISBN 9789795614302. 
3. ^ Nordin, Razak (1973). PBMUM - Perubahan Sikap Pelajar-pelajar Melayu. Department of Malay Studies, University of Malaya.