This paper examines the language planning that has been performed since Malaysian Independence for the promotion of Malay, the national language. It points out successes and problems and the reasons why Malay has not succeeded in becoming a fully fledged national language which even the non-Malays can identify with. Together with the problems, some potential solutions are proposed that may better the given situation and make Malay a functional and reputable language also for the non-Malays, who make up more than one third of the total population, and maybe even internationally.