Before the introduction of Arabic script in the Malay region , Malay was written using Pallava , Kawi and Rencong script and are still in use today by the Champa Malay in Vietnam and Cambodia . Before the introduction of Arabic script in the Malay region , Malay was written using Pallava , Kawi and Rencong script and these are still in use today by the Champa Malay in Vietnam and Cambodia .