LETTER | I refer to the news article “Adakah DBP akan mendenda kerajaan persekutuan?” written by Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

I concur with Zairil that the government must take into account many other factors before amending the National Language Act 1963 and Education Act 1996 to impose fine on the wrong usage of Bahasa Malaysia in public notices and advertisements, including those posted online.

Seriously, why are we so “trigger happy” on fines? Have we thought through the consequences before introducing such a measure?

There will be mistakes made when we use any language. It is not unique to Bahasa Malaysia alone.

If we think that there are horrendous advertisements and notices written Bahasa Malaysia, we too must read the ridiculous brochures and notices written in English.

The most important aspect to consider is if the mistakes are wilfully made out of disrespect. I don’t think we should impose fine on mistakes made out of ignorance or carelessness.

Besides, how would the enforcing authorities define “mistakes”? I am sure there are subjectivities involved. I remember a long time ago, an advertising slogan in English that said, “Anchor is the beer”. In Bahasa Malaysia it was translated as, “Anchor ialah beer”. But my rudimentary Bahasa Malaysia told me that it should be “Anchor itulah beer” if we truly understood what the slogan in English was trying to convey.

Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka may be the expert in Bahasa Malaysia but are they the experts in Chinese and English? If they are not, how would they know translations from other languages into Bahasa Malaysia are correctly done?

I am for proper use of all languages in our signboards, public notices and advertisements. However, I think we should all take the trouble to point out the mistakes made by advertisers or business owners. Enforcing agencies should at least give them the opportunity to rectify the mistakes before imposing fine on them.

Imposing fines without notice would increase the cost of doing business. Many will be hesitant to put up notices and advertisements if the threats of a fine are constantly hanging over their heads.

Also, if what constitutes a “mistake” is not properly defined, the enforcing authorities could capitalise on the situation to solicit bribes from the business owners and advertisers.

Just walk along any row of shoplots, look at the signboards on display, and then go tell the authorities the number of mistakes you have spotted.

Just something to think about.

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