ABSTRACT
This chapter details the multilingual milieu found in Malaysia, and the complex issues surrounding language policies that seem to be at odds with one another as the nation’s leaders grapple with the need to balance nation building and the desire to be in line with globalization, a process that will shape the economies of the future. A discussion of language educationrelated issues in Malaysia may turn out to be reductionist in nature if historical roots and the political set-up of this multiracial nation are not foregrounded. The relevant background information is presented in the first section of this chapter. The second section contains an assessment of the language policies and other key issues related to language education. The concluding section recommends changes that can synergize the peoples towards greater integration and nation building.
