REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- Indonesian can become the language of the ASEAN region as its speakers outnumber those of other languages, according to an academician from the Nusa Cendana University, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara province, Prof. Simon Sabon.

In addition, the Indonesian language is very easy to learn and understand compared to other languages, Sabon noted here on Monday.

"Indonesia's population has now crossed 200 million, and its citizens speak Indonesian. Hence, it deserves to be the language of instruction in the ASEAN region," he pointed out.

He remarked that there was a possibility of Indonesian and Malay becoming the official languages of the ASEAN as they had been proposed during the parliamentary meeting of the ASEAN countries.

According to Sabon, based on the specific regulations of the United Nations, a language can become the medium of instruction in a region if the number of its speakers exceeds 200 million.

"Therefore, Indonesia, with a population of over 200 million, has the potential to make Indonesian the language of the ASEAN region," he affirmed.

Sabon explained that with regard to linguistics, learning Indonesian was much easier due to its simple codification. It is very different from the system and codification of Malay, which is much more complicated and difficult.

He encouraged the government and people of Indonesia to continue to use Indonesian as the main language of conduct in their own country.

He emphasized that Indonesian should serve as a unifying language and the nation's identity.

Although not all parliaments of ASEAN member countries agreed to making Indonesian the official language of the ASEAN, the proposal will be pursued.

Besides Indonesians, half of Malaysia's population speaks Malay, and it is known that the Indonesian language traces its roots back to the Malay language.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, some five percent of the population in Moro and its surrounding areas use Indonesian.

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