Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Translators Association (MTA) is developing a National Translator Certification Test to formally assess and certify translators' professional competence, in a move aimed at strengthening standards and public confidence in the translation and interpreting profession in Malaysia. Speaking at an engagement session with stakeholders on the development of the certification test today, MTA president Dr Hasuria Che Omar said the system was expected to be ready by the end of this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, by early 2027, candidates who passed the test would find their names listed in the MTA Directory of Certified Translators and Interpreters, providing government agencies, businesses, and the public with a trusted reference for qualified language professionals. "The certification process is intended to ensure that translators possess the knowledge, skills, and professional competence required to deliver quality translation services," she said.

Hasuria stated that the certification would also help recognize translation as a specialized profession that required formal assessment, ethical standards, and continuous professional development. The engagement session brought together academicians and stakeholder representatives, including from the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Department of Higher Education, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), DBKL Training Institute, the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), and SIRIM.

The certification test will initially comprise a written assessment designed to evaluate candidates' translation competence. Meanwhile, MTA Council Member Assoc Prof Dr M. Zain Sulaiman of the Centre for Research in Language and Linguistics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, dismissed the common misconception that anyone fluent in two languages could work as a professional translator. He emphasized that translation was a specialized profession underpinned by academic knowledge, technical skills, and professional ethics, hence the need for translators to be professionally certified.

While acknowledging the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Google Translate, Gemini, and ChatGPT, he said these technologies should be viewed as aids rather than replacements for professional translators. "Machine translation tools can assist the translation process, but they cannot assume responsibility or accountability for the final product. Professional translators remain responsible for ensuring accuracy, context, ethics, and the consequences of the translated content," he said.

Zain highlighted that professional translation played a vital role in connecting people across languages and cultures, facilitating access to knowledge, supporting economic development, safeguarding rights, health, and public safety, and strengthening international relations. "Translation is often misunderstood as simply changing words from one language to another. In reality, it is a complex process that requires informed decision-making, linguistic expertise, and cultural understanding," he said, adding that a nationally recognized certification framework would help distinguish qualified professionals and reinforce public confidence in translation services across both the public and private sectors.

MTA will also be organizing a public dialogue on the introduction of the system on July 28.