@davidkychuaofficial: Oriental Kopi has sparked a heated Malaysian debate after customers noticed its menus used English and Chinese but omitted Bahasa Melayu, with some arguing that a proudly Malaysian brand built around local heritage should include the national language, while others questioned why Oriental Kopi was being singled out when other Malaysian F&B brands such as ZUS Coffee and Tealive also use English-heavy menus. TRP The deeper issue is that Bahasa Melayu is constitutionally Malaysia's national language, but the National Language Act primarily concerns official purposes, so the absence of Malay from a private restaurant menu should not automatically be described as an offence under that Act. e-Seminar Oriental Kopi's founder has since apologised, reaffirmed respect for Bahasa Melayu and said a new menu incorporating Malay is already being developed. BuzzKini That leaves the more uncomfortable debate: if Malaysians genuinely want to protect the national language, should every business — regardless of brand, ownership or target market — be held to the same standard?

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Friday 16 October 2026 10:12:20 GMT