YOURSAY | ‘Contrary to what Rais says, English will uplift and unify the various races.’

S'wak asked to reconsider English official language decision

Turvy: Arguing a language policy to foster nationhood is what messed this country's education system to what it is today.

The ‘one nation, one school’ idea exhorted by politicians since Merdeka has completely failed. Even the father of this simple notion has had a change of mind. But political changes of mind won’t mitigate the damage done to at least two generations of Malaysians.

The language policy has only helped to create new divisions in society, of English language speakers and others and to keep the poor static in their place.

The hypocrisy of the notion is evident in the special schools that the Education Ministry has created, the wanton amounts of money spent to educate Malaysians overseas (in English), and the way in which the leaders who support the policy have sent their own children overseas.

The new education blueprint provides statistical evidence to show that, safe for the mantras on one language, etc, even government has abandoned the policy. Social and Cultural Affairs Adviser to the Government Rais Yatim is indeed flogging a dead horse.

Odin Tajué: Rais, Point 2 of the 18-Point/20-Point Malaysia Agreement says English shall be the official language of Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) for all purposes, state or federal, without limitation of time.

Do you understand English? Many of the points in the agreement have been dishonoured by you lot.

Your asking Sarawak to reconsider the decision to use English means you are perpetuating the scant regard your federal government has been having for the said agreement.

While we are on dishonouring agreements, Point 15 is another one of those you lot have dishonoured.

It says that the educational system of Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) existing before the formation of Malaysia shall be maintained and for that reason education should be under state control. You have taken over control of the education in Borneo and royally buggered it up.

For 52 long years, you lot have treated the Dayaks of Sarawak as ‘Others/Lain-lain'. Only this month has it been agreed that their race ought to be stated on official forms instead of ‘Others/Lain-lain'.

They are the original people/Orang Asal of Sarawak, and yet you lot have treated them as if they were rubbish.

You lot have always looked down on Sarawak. And, for that matter, Sabah. You are totally ill-qualified to talk about unity/integration. It is best that you concentrate on maids - in particular, those from Indonesia - and such.

Vijay47: The fate of this country must be nearing eternal damnation when people with the calibre of Rais and S Samy Vellu, I might add, are made advisors to the government.

Nevertheless, we all know that they are appointed not for any wisdom they profess to have but to reward them for past servile loyalty.

On this "Use English" issue, must Sarawak burn while Mara colleges continue with English as the medium of instruction?

Rais knows that the ramifications extend far beyond mere language or unity and disintegration, he knows that on an important propaganda platform, an East Malaysian state has the temerity to put its foot down and break away from Kuala Lumpur's hitherto total domination.

Worse, it could herald similar cracks within the peninsula also. Umno must be in a state of shock that the Sarawak worm has finally turned and Sabah cannot be too far away from doing likewise.

The Ides of March are fast approaching, Najib, your fixed deposits can no longer be counted on.

Cinaputra: In the private sector, if I speak, read and write only Malay, I can't hope to get very far. However, if I am fluent in English, I may be able to climb pretty high up the ladder.

It is an indisputable fact that English is superior to Malay in the acquisition of knowledge. Am I any less loyal to the country by stating this? By the way, I speak fluent Malay.

Proarte: English is the language of education and knowledge. Umno's aim to keep people down and stupid so that they become vulnerable and easily manipulated.

Contrary to what Rais says, English will uplift and unify the various races which form Malaysia. English is a 'neutral' language whereby no one will feel they are losing their dignity when they communicate with others of a different race.

Currently because of Umno's 'ketuanan' policies over the years, non-Malays resent the imposition of Bahasa Malaysia and the deliberate dumbing down of education in Malaysia.

Sabah and Sarawak have suffered drastically as a result of this type of cultural neo-colonisation. Well done, Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem and shame on you, Rais.

Nippon: Maybe Rais should tell us how the adoption of English along with Bahasa Malaysia will lead to disintegration.

I strongly believe that Adenan is doing the right thing and he will elevate the government civil servants to the next level that we have not seen for a long time and it will definitely improve the status of the Sarawakians.

Anonymous_1393648884: Rais, you have so many, many big political, social and economic problems in Peninsular Malaysia you can't handle and yet you want to interfere in a highly popular decision that Sarawak's chief minister has made.

It is their right under the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 and it is truly a wise decision as English is an international language used far and wide.

There is no reason to be so chauvinistic as Bahasa Malaysia is still one of Sarawak's official languages.

Anonymous 560221439180274: Mr Government Adviser, your advice is wrong. The Sarawak chief minister understands the pulse of East Malaysians (Sabah included).

Anyway, he is not demanding for the complete removal of Bahasa Malaysia but for the English language to be given equal importance in schools for students to benefit the best of the two languages and eventually to seek knowledge and empowerment.

Where is there cause for division and discord? Or are you afraid that Peninsular Malaysians will soon demand for the same, resulting in the displacement of teachers and subsequently loss of support for the government.

Which is better - the displacement or the progress of a nation?

You want the Malays to lead and progress, please encourage them to give equal support to the English language. A leader not concern about the progress of his people and nation is as good as not being there at all.

XED: There are Malay supremacists who preach, with a lack of intellectual honesty, that the Malay language must be used to promote unity.

They preach in the Malay language a message of hate and malice against others, and get understood well enough. Have they preached in the Malay language respect for other races?

Their real reasons for promoting the language and even suppressing other languages are not disclosed. Why?

There are enough countries where people curse each other in their own country in the same language. Language is merely a medium of communication. Look at how Arab Muslims curse and kill Muslims of other sects, and speak Arabic doing so.

What we need is to break the prejudices that we have towards others.

Cascara: Rais may be right. Sarawak's unilateral move could cause a rift between the Borneo states and the peninsula. So Peninsular Malaysian states should also adopt English as an official language to maintain unity.

Tpn: How come Utusan Malaysia is very quiet on this matter. Why not ask the Sarawak CM to migrate like how it asked a DAP MP.

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