KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Sin Chew Daily) – Some 20 foreigners learned the Malay language in a fun-filled workshop organized by the National Library of Malaysia.

Ali Rashid, deputy director of National Library of Malaysia reference division, said the workshop was one of the events launched under the "10 years of Malay language Plan" by the ministry of education.

The aim is to allow foreigners working and studying in the country to learn basic Malay language.

The two-day workshop for foreigners was conducted on October 3 and 10 at the National Library. The workshop is free of charge.

Held annually since 2014, this is the sixth year for the library to organize the workshop.

In the past, a total of 50 people joined the workshop each year to learn the Malay language.

This year, the number of participants was reduced to 20 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The participants learned basic everyday Malay and simple terms during the workshop, said Ali.

Through singing and performing in groups, the participants learned the language for day-to-day communication, he explained.

Muhammad Yassen Rasheed, a system operator with the Embassy of Iraq in Malaysia, was among the participants at the workshop.

Muhammad Yassen, who managed to pick up some useful practical Malay terms during the two-day workshop, said he would continue to learn Malay through YouTube and Malay-learning videos.

Rizwangul from Xinjiang, China, said she came to Malaysia five years ago, and is currently studying education psychology at the International Islamic University here.

"I have tried many ways to learn the Malay language but am unable to master the language.

"I get to practice Malay with other participants here. This is my second year taking part in the workshop," she said.

Pietro Tombaccini, a consultant with the Italian embassy here, said he joined the workshop out of curiosity.

Apart from work requirements, he would be able to understand the Malay culture through the language, he said.

Tombaccini and his wife Florinda Guadagna joined the workshop together.

Guadagna said she would continue to learn Malay with her husband after the two-day workshop.