Friday, December 4, 2009
Penangites - be wary of a Khazanah bearing gifts!
I'm referring to the land owners at wits end on how to maintain their properties within the heritage zone of Penang.
(Image from flickr.com)
Be warned that the RM20 million promised to the long suffering owners will somehow be dispensed to us by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the investment arm of the Malaysian government. In a written reply to MP for Bukit Bendera YB Liew Chin Tong, PM Najib had said "Khazanah will manage the funds for Penang while Malacca will get the funds through the Heritage Funds Group under the Information, Communication and Cultural Ministry".
The Malaysia Insider's report here - Khazanah to maintain Penang's heritage sites, not state.
Obvious double standards here but still a good thing, no? After all, we need the money and any help will go towards a long ways to conserving our heritage status since we had been lumbered with a responsibility which we did not ask for nor consulted with!
Never mind about what had happened in the past when our federal government and their BN counterparts in Penang applied for UNESCO's heritage status without consulting the stakeholders. Let us just accept it that it could potentially be beneficial to Penang as a whole .... eventually.
But shouldn't how Penang's heritage zone be conserved and maintained be by real Penangites, who for all their lives had to live within or around it, and truly understand the pulse of what makes George Town vibrant? Why do we need only a handful of Penang-born Khazanah people (mostly residing in KL but once in a while return to Penang to touch base with their roots) to tell us what makes Penang tick? Again the question of ignoring those who are affected most by our arrogant know-it-all UMNO/BN federal government!
(Penang people slurping their cendol image from members.virtualtourist.com)
People of Penang and especially the stakeholders of it's heritage zone, be wary when Khazanah comes knocking on your doors. Remember to read the fine lines before you put your signature to a piece of paper when accepting Khazanah's "gifts". Remember that Khazanah is but a tool of the ruling elites who cannot distinguish between country and political party. Remember that those in Putrajaya presently care not so much for heritage and our state sovereignty on matters of land and religion guaranteed by the federal constitution, but how to bring Penang under it's total control.
I hope I'm wrong but this funding through Khazanah reeks of neo-colonialism to me. I'm not asking all stakeholders of Penang's heritage zone to reject this forthcoming help outright BUT to be wary if we Penangites want to determine the future of the city we live in.
(image from cityunslicker.blogspot.com)
Ps. I can't but help wonder about the loud voices of PHT when LGE's state government was confronted with the inherited issue of height control and possibly losing the heritage status.
Where are their voices now when they have been sidelined??? Now is the time to show us your true grit PHT! Speak now or forever keep your silence!!!
(Image from flickr.com)The Malaysia Insider's report here - Khazanah to maintain Penang's heritage sites, not state.
Obvious double standards here but still a good thing, no? After all, we need the money and any help will go towards a long ways to conserving our heritage status since we had been lumbered with a responsibility which we did not ask for nor consulted with!
Never mind about what had happened in the past when our federal government and their BN counterparts in Penang applied for UNESCO's heritage status without consulting the stakeholders. Let us just accept it that it could potentially be beneficial to Penang as a whole .... eventually.
But shouldn't how Penang's heritage zone be conserved and maintained be by real Penangites, who for all their lives had to live within or around it, and truly understand the pulse of what makes George Town vibrant? Why do we need only a handful of Penang-born Khazanah people (mostly residing in KL but once in a while return to Penang to touch base with their roots) to tell us what makes Penang tick? Again the question of ignoring those who are affected most by our arrogant know-it-all UMNO/BN federal government!
(Penang people slurping their cendol image from members.virtualtourist.com)I hope I'm wrong but this funding through Khazanah reeks of neo-colonialism to me. I'm not asking all stakeholders of Penang's heritage zone to reject this forthcoming help outright BUT to be wary if we Penangites want to determine the future of the city we live in.
(image from cityunslicker.blogspot.com)Where are their voices now when they have been sidelined??? Now is the time to show us your true grit PHT! Speak now or forever keep your silence!!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
What has stupidity got to do with race? Stupid people are everywhere!
I wasn't going to write any post tonight as I was thinking about how to mobilize SABM in Penang after talking with Haris Ibrahim earlier this afternoon (more on this later).
(Image from www.memoryfoampillowblog.com)
As usual, in my daily routine before retiring for bed, I check for the latest postings on a few blogs and news portals so as not to be caught unawares when the shit-hits-the-fan the next morning. Well it looks like Utusan Malaysia's Siti Mariam MD Zain has put paid to my beauty sleep since an inflammatory article like hers DEMANDS rebuttal!
If you are a non-racial and fair-minded Malaysian, make sure your stomach is empty before reading her article "DAP pamer sikap sebenar", lest you throw-up hard earned food all over your PC!
The thing that got me fired-up about her article was the equating of silly political showmanship with race. I had already said that Perak DAP was stupid with that stunt and they should be reprimanded accordingly for their stupidity but to equate stupidity with racism?
My earlier post on this subject HERE.
I wonder if Siti Mariam is more stupid and/or racist than some goons from Perak DAP?
The other thing that got me riled-up was did I just recognize a threat from the mouthpiece of UMNO who forms the backbone of OUR government, a government supposedly for ALL Malaysians, with the inference to May 13?
Let me say this again. May 13 was an UMNO engineered political play to oust Tunku Abdul Rahman who refused to be a Malay ultra but a true blue Malaysian! It was internal UMNO politics of the worst kind when LOYAL MALAYSIAN CITIZENS were made to pay for their power struggle!
(Image from malaysiansunited.blogspot.com)
Stupidity exist across ALL ethnicity in accordance with the laws of nature. The bigger question is how to reduce this stupidity when those who have the authority to change things depends on such stupid and racist supporters?
In many ways, I do not envy PM Najib who knows his time in power is short if he cannot knock some sense into his party supporters. His power base is racially inclined and it is getting smaller by the day as more and more young educated Malaysians of ALL ethnicity come into mainstream Malaysia.
Without pampering to these stupid racist goons, he cannot keep his hold on power and put in true reforms much needed by our country. I've also said this before, the system is so corrupt and warped that no good men/women from UMNO can ever rise to the top to effect real changes.
Given this scenario I would rather place my faith in Pakatan Rakyat, despite their shortcomings as exemplified by some from Perak DAP, that some hope is better than no hope!
(Image from denisejanderson.blogspot.com)
Racism has to stop in this country if we ALL are to have a brighter future. Like it or not, we are in this together. I may hate you Siti Mariam for your racist thoughts but I will shed blood with you if you are threatened from an external source. This is the least I can do if I call myself a true Malaysian.
Please open your eyes. Seeing enemies all around will be the demise of OUR country!!!
(Image from www.memoryfoampillowblog.com)If you are a non-racial and fair-minded Malaysian, make sure your stomach is empty before reading her article "DAP pamer sikap sebenar", lest you throw-up hard earned food all over your PC!
The thing that got me fired-up about her article was the equating of silly political showmanship with race. I had already said that Perak DAP was stupid with that stunt and they should be reprimanded accordingly for their stupidity but to equate stupidity with racism?
My earlier post on this subject HERE.
I wonder if Siti Mariam is more stupid and/or racist than some goons from Perak DAP?
The other thing that got me riled-up was did I just recognize a threat from the mouthpiece of UMNO who forms the backbone of OUR government, a government supposedly for ALL Malaysians, with the inference to May 13?
Let me say this again. May 13 was an UMNO engineered political play to oust Tunku Abdul Rahman who refused to be a Malay ultra but a true blue Malaysian! It was internal UMNO politics of the worst kind when LOYAL MALAYSIAN CITIZENS were made to pay for their power struggle!
(Image from malaysiansunited.blogspot.com)In many ways, I do not envy PM Najib who knows his time in power is short if he cannot knock some sense into his party supporters. His power base is racially inclined and it is getting smaller by the day as more and more young educated Malaysians of ALL ethnicity come into mainstream Malaysia.
Without pampering to these stupid racist goons, he cannot keep his hold on power and put in true reforms much needed by our country. I've also said this before, the system is so corrupt and warped that no good men/women from UMNO can ever rise to the top to effect real changes.
Given this scenario I would rather place my faith in Pakatan Rakyat, despite their shortcomings as exemplified by some from Perak DAP, that some hope is better than no hope!
(Image from denisejanderson.blogspot.com)Please open your eyes. Seeing enemies all around will be the demise of OUR country!!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Who is looking after who?
I would like to share a story which I heard today from a friend who is from one of Penang's chambers of commerce. I won't reveal which chamber so as not to give away the identity of my friend.
(Image from www.mastergoh.com)
He told me that he was recently approached by a Class-F Bumiputera contractor who had nothing but praises for the PR state government of Penang led by YAB Lim Guan Eng.
According to this bumi contractor, previously when under the Gerakan led BN state government, most of whatever contracts given out by the state went to contractors not from Penang. Most of them went to contractors with connections to Putrajaya. Whatever is then left, went to contractors connected to UMNO Penang. By which time, there is nothing left for ordinary Class-F Bumiputera contractors like him.
This bumi contractor told my friend that today the situation is a lot different from then. At least now most if not all state contracts are given to Penang contractors without favoritism either by race, religion or political connections. The only "favoritism" shown is to able Penang based contractors first then source from outside Penang if none are available locally!
Isn't this the way it should be? An even distribution of wealth based on need and ability without enriching only those with connections to Putrajaya and UMNO warlords?
I once read somewhere that affirmative action ala NEP style really only benefited some 5,000+ families connected with UMNO's ruling elites and the remaining millions of ordinary Malaysians of whatever ethnicity have to fend for themselves!
This leads me to a report by Agence France-Presse titled "Malaysia's economy stagnant, needs reform: finance minister" where 2nd Finance Minister Ahmad Huzni Hanadzlah was quoted as saying;
(Image from whououcallingaskeptic.wordpress.com)
"Our economy has been stagnating in the last decade. We have lost our competitive edge to remain as the leader of the pack in many sectors of the economy. Our private investment has been steadily in decline."
He called for sweeping measures including an emphasis on meritocracy and ensuring all Malaysians are given "equal opportunity to participate in the economy".
He further went on to add "The long-term success of the nation's economy must take precedence over the short term interests of a few protected groups."
Which brings me back to UMNO and the inefficient, corrupt system of governance it created. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if tomorrow some retards from the ruling elites denounce what Ahmad Huzni had said and in a couple of weeks if not sooner, he is shown the exit from his present office!
For any "unenlightened" readers here, please go to the ground and hear it from those marginalized ordinary Malaysians first-hand then come back and tell me who is looking after who?
(Image from www.mastergoh.com)According to this bumi contractor, previously when under the Gerakan led BN state government, most of whatever contracts given out by the state went to contractors not from Penang. Most of them went to contractors with connections to Putrajaya. Whatever is then left, went to contractors connected to UMNO Penang. By which time, there is nothing left for ordinary Class-F Bumiputera contractors like him.
This bumi contractor told my friend that today the situation is a lot different from then. At least now most if not all state contracts are given to Penang contractors without favoritism either by race, religion or political connections. The only "favoritism" shown is to able Penang based contractors first then source from outside Penang if none are available locally!
Isn't this the way it should be? An even distribution of wealth based on need and ability without enriching only those with connections to Putrajaya and UMNO warlords?
I once read somewhere that affirmative action ala NEP style really only benefited some 5,000+ families connected with UMNO's ruling elites and the remaining millions of ordinary Malaysians of whatever ethnicity have to fend for themselves!
This leads me to a report by Agence France-Presse titled "Malaysia's economy stagnant, needs reform: finance minister" where 2nd Finance Minister Ahmad Huzni Hanadzlah was quoted as saying;
(Image from whououcallingaskeptic.wordpress.com)He called for sweeping measures including an emphasis on meritocracy and ensuring all Malaysians are given "equal opportunity to participate in the economy".
He further went on to add "The long-term success of the nation's economy must take precedence over the short term interests of a few protected groups."
Which brings me back to UMNO and the inefficient, corrupt system of governance it created. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if tomorrow some retards from the ruling elites denounce what Ahmad Huzni had said and in a couple of weeks if not sooner, he is shown the exit from his present office!
For any "unenlightened" readers here, please go to the ground and hear it from those marginalized ordinary Malaysians first-hand then come back and tell me who is looking after who?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
When can we be rid of political immaturity?
Yesterday at the Perak DAP annual convention, "persons unknown" placed a poster of the three Perak kataks near the entrance of the convention hall for those attending to step over the faces of the three kataks.
DAP Sec-Gen YAB Lim Guan Eng did not step on the poster but instead jumped over it then cracked a joke about the kataks being too dirty to even step on.
TheStar Online report HERE.
(Image from TheStar Online)
Was this immature political symbolism necessary? Why didn't LGE simply order the poster to be removed and explain to those who put it there that politics is about issues without being personal? Why stoop to the low level immature symbolism practiced by the UMNO/BN buffoons?
Over in Penang at around noon today, UMNO/BN Youth held a demonstration in front of the sitting Penang State Assembly to protest against the PR led Penang state government for "inefficiency and indecisiveness". These hoodlums trampled on and burned a poster of Penang CM YAB Lim Guan Eng to vent their frustrations!
Malaysiakini report HERE (for subscribers).
(Image from Malaysiakini)
Again I ask, was this immature political symbolism necessary? Why didn't the BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin put a stop to this silly symbolism if he, as a young educated Oxford grad, understand that politics is about issues and how we would tackle them or is he just as ignorant as his mindless minions despite his Oxford credentials?
It would seem from these two incidents and many others before them that our politicians rely on immature symbolism to galvanize support for them and their political parties. That ordinary Malaysians only respond to showmanship of the political kind.
That may have been true in the past but I believe (thankfully) that Malaysia as a whole, with it's young population, are evolving past these silly immature symbolism. Some are already questioning the need for all the flags, banners, posters, etc., each time elections come around. They are asking if this is not a waste of precious resources when the all important issues are neglected.
In many ways, we ordinary Malaysians are to blame. I say this because we (as a whole) still can't distinguish who are those to clear our drains and collect our rubbish and all our petty what-not. We bog our political representatives down with petty issues when they should be preparing for parliament and state assemblies to make or change laws which affects us but more importantly, to hold the executive branch of government accountable for their actions!
What is a smelly drain and stinking rubbish compared to being led by people equally as stupid as we are through our own fault? Wake up people. Unless we are prepared to shoulder the responsibility of change for a better country, we deserve the politicians we get!
(Image from www.childrenshomeofrdg.org)
We are our worst enemies with ALL our peeves and hate but yet unwilling to leave our comfort zones to effect real change. Hate me if you want for saying the truth which hurts but it had to be said if we want to leave a better country behind for our young ones.
The choice is OURS!
DAP Sec-Gen YAB Lim Guan Eng did not step on the poster but instead jumped over it then cracked a joke about the kataks being too dirty to even step on.
TheStar Online report HERE.
(Image from TheStar Online)Over in Penang at around noon today, UMNO/BN Youth held a demonstration in front of the sitting Penang State Assembly to protest against the PR led Penang state government for "inefficiency and indecisiveness". These hoodlums trampled on and burned a poster of Penang CM YAB Lim Guan Eng to vent their frustrations!
Malaysiakini report HERE (for subscribers).
(Image from Malaysiakini)It would seem from these two incidents and many others before them that our politicians rely on immature symbolism to galvanize support for them and their political parties. That ordinary Malaysians only respond to showmanship of the political kind.
That may have been true in the past but I believe (thankfully) that Malaysia as a whole, with it's young population, are evolving past these silly immature symbolism. Some are already questioning the need for all the flags, banners, posters, etc., each time elections come around. They are asking if this is not a waste of precious resources when the all important issues are neglected.
In many ways, we ordinary Malaysians are to blame. I say this because we (as a whole) still can't distinguish who are those to clear our drains and collect our rubbish and all our petty what-not. We bog our political representatives down with petty issues when they should be preparing for parliament and state assemblies to make or change laws which affects us but more importantly, to hold the executive branch of government accountable for their actions!
What is a smelly drain and stinking rubbish compared to being led by people equally as stupid as we are through our own fault? Wake up people. Unless we are prepared to shoulder the responsibility of change for a better country, we deserve the politicians we get!
(Image from www.childrenshomeofrdg.org)The choice is OURS!
Monday, November 30, 2009
RPK speaks his mind - 9th episode
Raja Petra on the special position of the Malays and the federal constitution.
It's all about money - OUR money!
I was once a Gerakan supporter (only every 5 years but not a member - thank God!) and by virtue of being that, a Barisan Nasional supporter - I was once a "bad" Malaysian!
(Image from www.metafilter.com)
I had voted on three previous occasions and on all those occasions, I gave my votes to a Gerakan/BN candidate. For that I'm ashamed today as I was one of those who supported those incompetent, corrupt and hegemonic buffoons who pulled our beloved country down to where it is today!
It is because of this shame that after 8 March 2008, I resolved not to simply take politics in Malaysia at face value but to TRULY understand what is going on and wherever possible lend a hand to others willing to sacrifice for a better Malaysia!
To do this, I had to read and learn about all there is to learn about my country. In April of last year, I embarked on a learning process by buying and reading books which offers a different opinion from those propaganda hurled at us by the ruling elites. One year and six months on, I've read 23 socio-political books on Malaysia.
The very first book I bought and read, Political Tsunami - An End to Hegemony in Malaysia shocked me. And I continue to be shocked today with everything I'm still learning when contrasted with my past recalcitrance!
This time round, I know what I'm doing. No more voting blindly because of taking the easy way out. Definitely no more to politicians who cannot see a bigger and better picture of a glorious Malaysia where ALL Malaysians care for each other and strive to put food on ALL our tables, not just those connected few!
No more to UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the rest!!!
Am I angry when I said the above? Damn right I'm angry when I learn things from independent sources how I've been robbed!
I pay my taxes diligently and without fail but I recently learned that taxpayers like me only form 20% of Malaysia's citizenry.
The thing that riled me up is not about paying my taxes no matter how unfair and how wasted it is but that the majority of Malaysians can't even qualify to reach the income threshold to pay taxes. How the hell are we as a nation to reach high-income status when the majority of Malaysians haven't even reached middle-income status? And this is despite the abundant wealth Malaysia is blessed with?
(Image from www.worth1000.com)
I fail to understand those UMNO/BN supporters who are not "connected" nor profited from the ruling elites are ever so willing to keep these thieves in a position to rob us further? Is it for a few crumbs that would make them satisfied?
Do not believe me about the thieves? Then read this article by the Asia Sentinel called Grand Theft Malaysia!
(Image from www.metafilter.com)It is because of this shame that after 8 March 2008, I resolved not to simply take politics in Malaysia at face value but to TRULY understand what is going on and wherever possible lend a hand to others willing to sacrifice for a better Malaysia!
To do this, I had to read and learn about all there is to learn about my country. In April of last year, I embarked on a learning process by buying and reading books which offers a different opinion from those propaganda hurled at us by the ruling elites. One year and six months on, I've read 23 socio-political books on Malaysia.
The very first book I bought and read, Political Tsunami - An End to Hegemony in Malaysia shocked me. And I continue to be shocked today with everything I'm still learning when contrasted with my past recalcitrance!
This time round, I know what I'm doing. No more voting blindly because of taking the easy way out. Definitely no more to politicians who cannot see a bigger and better picture of a glorious Malaysia where ALL Malaysians care for each other and strive to put food on ALL our tables, not just those connected few!
No more to UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the rest!!!
Am I angry when I said the above? Damn right I'm angry when I learn things from independent sources how I've been robbed!
I pay my taxes diligently and without fail but I recently learned that taxpayers like me only form 20% of Malaysia's citizenry.
The thing that riled me up is not about paying my taxes no matter how unfair and how wasted it is but that the majority of Malaysians can't even qualify to reach the income threshold to pay taxes. How the hell are we as a nation to reach high-income status when the majority of Malaysians haven't even reached middle-income status? And this is despite the abundant wealth Malaysia is blessed with?
(Image from www.worth1000.com)Do not believe me about the thieves? Then read this article by the Asia Sentinel called Grand Theft Malaysia!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
This week in Penang - 30 November to 4 December 2009
The Penang State Assembly will be sitting from 30 November (Monday) to 4 December (Friday) for the 3rd meeting of the 2nd term of the 12th sitting of the assembly.
(Image from www.malaysia.com)
Amongst the things that will be deliberated by Penang's ADUNs are; Penang budget 2010, UMNO/BN's attack on Penang state government, future planning and development of Penang state, resolution on Teoh Beng Hock, and voter registration, amongst other things.
If you are interested to know how your local ADUNS are representing your interests, you may watch these proceedings "live" on the internet via the Penang State Government Official Portal.
Another interesting event to take note of is a talk by MB of Perak YAB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin this coming Friday, 4 Dec 2009.
(The true Menteri Besar of Perak's image from malaysiaisms.wordpress.com)
Perak Crisis : The Lessons for 2-Party System in Malaysia
Time and date : 8.30pm on 4 December 2009 (Friday)
Venue : Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang, Jalan Utama, Pulau Pinang (next to the governor's residence)
Forum is free and open to all and will be conducted in both Malay and English.
(Image from www.malaysia.com)If you are interested to know how your local ADUNS are representing your interests, you may watch these proceedings "live" on the internet via the Penang State Government Official Portal.
Another interesting event to take note of is a talk by MB of Perak YAB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin this coming Friday, 4 Dec 2009.
(The true Menteri Besar of Perak's image from malaysiaisms.wordpress.com)Time and date : 8.30pm on 4 December 2009 (Friday)
Venue : Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang, Jalan Utama, Pulau Pinang (next to the governor's residence)
Forum is free and open to all and will be conducted in both Malay and English.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Watch the eyes - Bala is telling the truth!
Whatever we may think of PI Balasubramaniam's motives and reasons for doing what he did with his two earlier statutory declarations, surely these are pretty serious allegations which warrants further investigations. But the silence on the part of the authorities and those "involved" must be deafening which makes me believe that perhaps Bala was speaking the truth in the first place and he must be denied a day in court where he could reveal all under oath?
If you have forgotten Bala's first statutory declaration of 3 July 2008, please go HERE to Asia Sentinel to refresh your memory.
Of the principal persons mentioned in Bala's first SD, Najib is now PM of Malaysia, Razak Baginda is now living a comfortable life in UK and the girl whose name we can't mention is STILL DEAD!
By the way, when I watched all three videos, I observed Bala's eyes each time he tried to think and recollect his memories. His eyes instinctively looked to HIS LEFT subconsciously. This tells me that Bala is genuine and telling the truth.
(Image from Life Training - Online)
Let me search for Najib's video when he made the swearing on the Quran that he did not know the girl whose name we can't mention. I seriously wonder where his eyes turned?
If you have forgotten Bala's first statutory declaration of 3 July 2008, please go HERE to Asia Sentinel to refresh your memory.
Of the principal persons mentioned in Bala's first SD, Najib is now PM of Malaysia, Razak Baginda is now living a comfortable life in UK and the girl whose name we can't mention is STILL DEAD!
By the way, when I watched all three videos, I observed Bala's eyes each time he tried to think and recollect his memories. His eyes instinctively looked to HIS LEFT subconsciously. This tells me that Bala is genuine and telling the truth.
(Image from Life Training - Online)Friday, November 27, 2009
The importance of a lingua franca - currently NOT Malay or Mandarin or Hindi.
Today I attended a Board of Appeal hearing on an action brought against Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) by some residents against an MPPP approved proposed private development close to their homes. I won't go into the details of the action as I was not witness to what had transpired in this action earlier and I only know briefly what the crux of the problem was (is).
Instead I would like to talk about how when deliberations went technical today, despite the hearing being in English, it was a "farce of sorts" when the experts/consultants tried to explain to the board chairman their respective views.
There were three principle participants at today's hearing (not counting the chairman of the board). One a Caucasian who is an appellant resident or representing the appellant residents (on this I'm not sure), another is an engineer from MPPP involved with approving the development project and the third principal participant is a consultant engaged by the developer.
When the Caucasian man raised technical questions to the engineer from MPPP, the chairman had to translate the questions into Bahasa Melayu for the engineer from MPPP. Though the engineer tried to answer in a mix of Bahasa Melayu and English, somehow it didn't come out right and gave the impression to the audience that he doesn't know his stuff or worse still the MPPP did not follow procedures! So much time was wasted just trying to understand what was being asked and what was being answered!
Now it gets worse. The consultant engaged by the developer speaks English but his grammar and pronunciation (with a Chinese orientation) was so horrendous that it drew giggles and laughter from the audience (me included)! Answers had to be asked to be repeated and put into context by another member of the board before it made sense to the chairman and the audience.
So where am I going with this post?
A friend who sat beside me in the audience rightly hit it on the head when he remarked that these people are competent technical people but unfortunately, a lack of a common fluent language to make themselves understood, made for this prolonged farce. They are made to look incompetent because of their inability to express themselves in English, which like it or not, is the common lingua franca of a shrinking world. If not for the fact that the board chairman speaks both English and Bahasa Melayu fluently, the whole proceedings would have deteriorated into an absolute farce and waste of time!
The point I'm trying to make here is if Malaysia wants to remain part of the greater world and actively belong and do business with others not from our shores, we better pay serious attention to our decline in the present lingua franca of English!
Those nationalist Bahasa Melayu proponents and those who think vernacular mother tongue education is the end-all to our educational problems, they better think again! The world is not going to wait for us whilst we sort out which is more important, a common national language or our respective mother tongues.
End of the day, we may be proud Malaysian Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc., but only locally proud because few of us can compete on a global scale simply because we can't communicate with the rest of the world!
No point being the best of anything when others cannot understand what our best is! If three Malaysians and one Caucasian have difficulty understanding each other, how the hell are we going to do business on a global scale?
Race is but skin deep. Stomachs and the need to fill them is universal. Do I need to say more about the politicization of our education system??
Instead I would like to talk about how when deliberations went technical today, despite the hearing being in English, it was a "farce of sorts" when the experts/consultants tried to explain to the board chairman their respective views.
There were three principle participants at today's hearing (not counting the chairman of the board). One a Caucasian who is an appellant resident or representing the appellant residents (on this I'm not sure), another is an engineer from MPPP involved with approving the development project and the third principal participant is a consultant engaged by the developer.
When the Caucasian man raised technical questions to the engineer from MPPP, the chairman had to translate the questions into Bahasa Melayu for the engineer from MPPP. Though the engineer tried to answer in a mix of Bahasa Melayu and English, somehow it didn't come out right and gave the impression to the audience that he doesn't know his stuff or worse still the MPPP did not follow procedures! So much time was wasted just trying to understand what was being asked and what was being answered!
Now it gets worse. The consultant engaged by the developer speaks English but his grammar and pronunciation (with a Chinese orientation) was so horrendous that it drew giggles and laughter from the audience (me included)! Answers had to be asked to be repeated and put into context by another member of the board before it made sense to the chairman and the audience.
So where am I going with this post?
A friend who sat beside me in the audience rightly hit it on the head when he remarked that these people are competent technical people but unfortunately, a lack of a common fluent language to make themselves understood, made for this prolonged farce. They are made to look incompetent because of their inability to express themselves in English, which like it or not, is the common lingua franca of a shrinking world. If not for the fact that the board chairman speaks both English and Bahasa Melayu fluently, the whole proceedings would have deteriorated into an absolute farce and waste of time!
The point I'm trying to make here is if Malaysia wants to remain part of the greater world and actively belong and do business with others not from our shores, we better pay serious attention to our decline in the present lingua franca of English!
Those nationalist Bahasa Melayu proponents and those who think vernacular mother tongue education is the end-all to our educational problems, they better think again! The world is not going to wait for us whilst we sort out which is more important, a common national language or our respective mother tongues.
End of the day, we may be proud Malaysian Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc., but only locally proud because few of us can compete on a global scale simply because we can't communicate with the rest of the world!
No point being the best of anything when others cannot understand what our best is! If three Malaysians and one Caucasian have difficulty understanding each other, how the hell are we going to do business on a global scale?
Race is but skin deep. Stomachs and the need to fill them is universal. Do I need to say more about the politicization of our education system??
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