They spoke a derivative of the Malay language.

他们说一种从马来语派生的语言。

youdao

Here, I wish to highlight the need to learn the Malay language. This may seem to be a contradiction to the prevailing trend, but it is not.

我在这里强调为什么我们需要掌握马来文，看起来好像和大势所趋背道而驰，实际上并非如此。

youdao

If we know the Malay language, we will be able to understand how the Malays think, and why they react in a certain way to events unfolding in Singapore and elsewhere.

掌握了马来文我们就能了解马来人的想法，和他们对发生在新加坡和其他地方的事件的反应。

youdao

The official language of the state shall be the Malay language and shall be in such script as may by written law be provided.

UNESCO: Brunei Darussalam

Malay remains the national language (there are four official languages), but it is not spoken by most Chinese and is largely seen as a relic of Singapore's past union with Malaysia.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia and Singapore: Aiming to avoid Indonesia’s way | The

The search for people to blame has already claimed one prominent scalp, that of Abdul Kadir Jasin, chief editor of Malaysia's New Straits Times Group, which publishes the main Malay and English-language newspapers.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia