PETALING JAYA: Bahasa Malaysia will be used at official government functions abroad only when English is not the host country's national language, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       "Bahasa Malaysia will be used at government functions in countries that use their own national language such as in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand," he said.

       "This is in efforts to make Bahasa Malaysia a common language used in Asean, considering that many people in Asean countries can speak Bahasa Malaysia," he added.

       He said that in countries where English is the national language, Malaysian government officials will use the English language.

       A Free Malaysia Today report earlier Saturday (Feb 26) stated that government officials must use Bahasa Malaysia at conferences and other engagements abroad.