ZAID HAMIDI SAID ABOUT TUN DR MAHATHIR.....”HE DON’T SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH!!”

ZAID HAMIDI SAID ABOUT TUN DR MAHATHIR.....”HE DON’T SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH!!”


Proponents of the opposition to English are doing the Malay Rakyat a great disservice because almost the entire electronic industry locally is already outside the active involvement and participation of the Malays as a community. Indeed, it is also well known that in most of the government, statutory, GLC, and other government sponsored specialized institutions such as hospitals, with rare exceptions, most of the more complex operations requiring fluency in English are undertaken by non-Malays.

By Dr Collin Abraham

There has been widespread condemnation, literally across the board, to the opposition towards the increasing demand for the greater use and development of the English language in our local public universities and centers of higher learning.

But with respect, most of the issues raised are not new, resulting in the failure to grasp the ‘dangerous’ negative social impact assessment for questions of ethnic/racial integration and national unity. Basically, it can be argued, that a significant section of power elite groups appear to be challenging raising the status of English, as a threat to the Malay ‘special position’ within the same context as the theoretical framework of the “siege” mentality they are expressing towards the possible withdrawal of other Malay social privileges as enunciated by me in earlier postings.

By stifling the institutional access towards the mastery of English, the Malays, as correctly pointed out by the former Minister of Information, run the risk of becoming “second class” citizens. English is the language of international business and commercial market forces, and to lack fluency in the means to compete in an increasingly competitive global environment must necessarily doom those involved to operate outside the ‘system’ irreversibly.

It has also been emphasized by many that the proponents of the opposition to English are doing the Malay Rakyat a great disservice. They must be aware that mainly because of the English language handicap almost the entire electronic industry locally is already outside the active involvement and participation of the Malays as a community. Indeed, it is also well known that in most of the government, statutory, GLC, and other government sponsored specialized institutions such as hospitals, with rare exceptions, most of the more complex operations requiring fluency in English are undertaken by non-Malays.

Indeed, the one area where Malay youth could be employed en masse would have been in the call centers as in India. But for this they will need to be fluent in the English language which they unfortunately are not.

In conclusion it needs to be strongly emphasized that the university students and the others involved cannot be blamed for the position they have taken because this is due to the disadvantaged position in which they find themselves. The root of the problem to deny the exposure the Malays to the English language is a colonial legacy, which unfortunately the elected governments after independence and since have failed to address and overcome.

It is time to redress the situation before ethnic/racial integration and national unity is further eroded.

Comments (9) ..

written by Revolution, March 21, 2011 00:36:51

It was onr of the major reasons why foreign investors choosed Malaysia ... At the same time we are sinking , all the countries around improve their english ....

As long as there is oil and Gas to cover .......

Malaysia :new Motto : Moving Backward Together ... ...

written by DPG, March 20, 2011 22:28:45

Don't expect the Malay-first Minister of Education to do anything about it. In fact, one of the first steps he has taken is to do away with the teaching of science and mathematics in English, a retrogressive step. Now all non-Malays, including some Malays, will not want to send their childeren to National schools. Only Malays will send their children to national schools, which are now becoming more and more like Islamic schools with the introduction of Arabic even at primary school level. It's alright if the Malays do not want to master English. They are preparing themselves to be labourers and maids to work in Indonesia, besides working in Government departments in the interior of the heartland of the kampong people.

written by Eskay345, March 20, 2011 20:30:34

The system we are having and experiencing now is akin to the system practised by the ancient Japanese emperial rulers when they insisted that learning, teaching, business transactions and everything else must only be in their Japanese language thus secluded the country behind the bamboo curtain for the next many centuries.

And Bolehland is being led in that same direction by the stupid Malay leaders. ...

written by guests, March 20, 2011 19:02:38

If I'm the PM or the Education Minister - I would choose English and explain to the Malays the importance of it although there will be a likelihood of being less popular. By doing so, you really deep down in your heart can say, I tried my best to work for the Malays and NOT by giving them what they want knowing that it will open up less opportunity for them. ...

written by guests, March 20, 2011 18:58:55

I've mentioned this several times. The political elite knows this very well and understand the importance of English. But nevertheless, chooses the politically correct decision as oppose to the correct decision.

On the other hand, the Malays themselves are to be blame for allowing this to happen. One party wants the vote and the other party chooses NOT to master English.

Let me put it in a very simple way and hope it will get the message across and again which I believe the political elite would know this too well.

English Speaking Economy worth Quadiliooooon Billion

Malay Speaking Economy worth much less than the above.

So, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which one provides more opportunity. ...

written by Rodins Fist, March 20, 2011 16:46:02

Dear Collin Abraham,

Listen to "RPK dinner in Sydney Q&A" Qn.6. It's close to your article... in fact, a perfect answer to you.

Go have a listen; is starts off slowly as the malay student asks a question in English, and is answered by RPK stridently with a good plan for the future. Let us know your views, here. ...

written by earthman, March 20, 2011 16:40:37

They should watch this and realise their silly mistake. Yes they will become second class because of their arrogance and blindness to the truth. They must break free from their bondage to false teachings and belief.

Watch this : http://www.youtube.com/user/di...Bk4Z4q1fEg ...

written by singhkris, March 20, 2011 16:07:37

It is not that no one knows the consequence of not learning Engllish. The Malays have UMNO, Perkasa, Mamathir and the Sultans to take care of their needs and rights. So we should not worry about the fate of the Malays with so many care-givers for them. It is their decision that the Malays should not now more than what the Utusan and the local TV stations dish out. We should only be concerned about opening the schools up to other languages which some parents feel their children should learn. Just that and no more. ..

written by Rodins Fist, March 20, 2011 15:41:42

To summarise:

Malay kids will be malay-speaking and not be able to be participate in the business world?

That's ok, they don't need to. They'll just rape the Chinese and Indians and -believe it- the weaker (less money, less political) Malays.

1Malaysia BOLEH ! Please bendover while BN screws you.