Oops, but what if I am bad in BM and accidentally make grammatical errors?! 

The Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Act 1959 has been amended to provide for fines of up to RM50,000 or prison terms for those who disrespect the national language.

The two penalties were among those suggested in the act's revisions, according to Prof Datuk Seri Awang Sariyan, head of the DBP board of governors. These amendments are currently in the final stages of debate before being handed to the prime minister next month.

"This is not about grammar or spelling errors, but disrespect for the national language. The proposed fine is not to punish but to evoke love and patriotism to the country," he added to reporters at the DBPs 66th Anniversary celebration.

So, I guess it would be okay to accidentally make grammar mistakes. If you do it on purpose that could mean you are intentionally disrespecting BM right? I guess we will have to wait for the amendments to be finalised to find out!

The government had previously said that it will change the DBP Act to empower the statutory authority to take action against any breach of Bahasa Melayu usage, including at the district level.

According to Awang, DBP also suggested that the National Language Act be modified to reflect the DBP Act's changes in order for it to better fulfil its responsibilities as an enforcer of language laws.

He said that the revisions should be implemented holistically, taking into account internationalisation, accreditation, and licencing of literary languages in addition to enforcement.

Just to be safe, better to look up private tutors for BM now! I certainly do not have RM50k stashed in the bank and I don't think I would last a day in prison!