A basic proficiency in Bahasa Melayu (BM) is a requirement for all PR applicants. One of the conditions on the Immigration Permit Masuk checklist is the following:
The Immigration and Police interviews are both conducted in BM and, whilst being fluent is not expected, applicants should be able to understand the questions and respond in BM.
This is how I learnt/improved my BM:
1) Took BM lessons
Many years ago I took BM lessons once a week for 3 months which taught me the basics and gave a good foundation for understanding the language. There are many classes available, such as:
2) Used the Ling language learning app
I signed up for the Ling language app to practice speaking and listening to BM in everyday situations. It is one of the few apps offering BM: https://ling-app.com/
I wrote a list of all of the questions I saw other applicants had been asked and translated them and my answers into BM. I also learnt the national
anthem (Negaraku) and national principles (Rukun Negara). See below for example interview questions
4) Practiced speaking BM with my spouse
We had day to day conversations and practiced the likely interview questions.
Another option is to learn from YouTube language channels like these:
- Sierra Lisse: https://www.youtube.com/@sierralisse8897
- Tina Amir: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaAmir
Example Interview Questions:
- Can you speak Bahasa Melayu?
- What is your name?
- What country do you come from?
- What is your address/where do you stay?
- Do you own or rent the house?
- What is your age?
- What is your date of birth?
- Where were you born?
- What is your wife/husband’s date of birth?
- What is your religion?
- What date did you first come to Malaysia and what was your reason for visiting?
- What was the date of your first LTSVP?
- How long have you lived in Malaysia?
- How and when did you meet?
- How long you have been married?
- What was your marriage date?
- Do you have any children?
- What are your occupations?
- Which company do you/your spouse work for?
- What are your salaries?
- What is your wife/husband’s monthly salary?
- How many family members do you have?
- Do you have siblings?
- Do you have family in your home country?
- What are your family members occupations?
- Where does your family live?
- How many siblings does your wife/husband have?
- Where does your wife/husband’s family live?
- How many times do you go to your country in a year?
- What are your education qualifications?
- What are your wife/husband’s qualifications?
- Why do you want to apply for PR?
- What do you like about Malaysia?
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- What does your wife/husband like to do?
- What food do you like?
- What is your telephone number?
- Do you
follow politics? This was asked at my Police interview. Foreigners are not allowed to get involved in Malaysian politics.
- What is the National Flower?
- What colour is the National Flower?
- What is the name of the Malaysian flag?
- How many colours does the flag have and what are they?
- How many stripes and what other symbols are on the flag?
- When is Independence Day (Hari Merdeka)?
- When is Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia)?
- How many states and federal territories are there?
- What are the names of the states and federal territories?
- Who is the King?
- Who is the Prime Minister?
- Who is the Deputy Prime Minister?
- Who are some other cabinet ministers?
- Who was the first Prime Minister?
- Can you name all the Prime Ministers?
- Can you recite the national principles (Rukun Negara)?
- Can you sing the national anthem (Negaraku)? Stand up to show respect.
Applicants may be asked to recite Rukun Negara and sing Negaraku during one or both interviews. Watching YouTube videos helped me to learn them:
Rukun Negara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHEdSOkhI88