LEADERS and citizens alike must embrace multilingualism to strengthen cross-cultural understanding and elevate Malaysia’s position on the world stage, said Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
Wong highlighted that Malaysia’s strength lies in its rich multilingual and multicultural fabric, making language proficiency an essential skill for effective communication across diverse communities.
“This is undoubtedly a far more demanding task compared to leaders in largely monolingual societies.
“Yet, it is also what gives us greater flexibility and authenticity in cross-cultural engagement.
“After all, linguistic diversity remains one of Malaysia’s most valuable assets,” he said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 13th Malaysia International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MICOLLAC 2025) at St Giles The Wembley Hotel today, Wong stressed that language is more than just a medium of communication.
“Language is the bridge that connects us to the world. It is not just a tool, but an asset, an invaluable form of capital that fosters international collaboration and cross-cultural understanding.
“In short, language is a competitive edge,” he said.
The biennial conference, organised by Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication with the support of the Penang government, has been held since 1999.
Now in its 13th edition, MICOLLAC serves as a platform for scholars, researchers and enthusiasts to exchange ideas on languages, literatures, and cultures.
Wong added that this year’s programme features truly distinguished speakers, covering disciplines ranging from communication studies and multilingualism to global scholarship, theatre, and environmental literature.
“The parallel sessions, too, are diverse and dynamic, reflecting the depth of inquiry and passion of the humanities and social sciences,” he said.
On tourism, Wong reported a strong rebound for Penang’s hospitality sector, with 8.23 million hotel guests recorded in 2024, a 13.3% increase from the 7.27 million guests in 2023.
“Even more encouraging, this number not only recovered but also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, rising 29% from 6.38 million guests in 2017.
“This is a clear testament to the resilience and renewed vitality of Penang’s tourism industry,” he said.
Also present were UPM deputy vice-chancellor Prof Ir Dr Hang Tuah Baharudin, UPM Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication Dean Assoc Prof Dr Hazlina Abdul Halim, and MICOLLAC 2025 chairman Assoc Prof Dr Hardev Kaur.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Siew Chia En