Govt agrees using of Malay dialect in the south

Thai government decides to adopt a dialect of Malay as a working language for government officials in the three southernmost provinces, Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said Tuesday.

"The government approved the use of Malay as an additional working language and will ensure that there are enough Malay-speaking government officials," the spokesman said.

"We will ask officials to learn and train to communicate in Malay," he added.

The decision was the latest effort by the government to ease tensions in the troblesome region.

The now defunct National Reconciliation Commission proposed the using of local dialect of Malay as one among peace-making measures.

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had rejected the proposal, which sought to address a frequent complaint in southern provinces that few government officials can speak the local language.

The Nation