Correct way to write our official name

We get our names when we are born. Parents or guardians give us a name and the name sticks to ourselves to our grave, too. In fact, this is the name that is inscribed on the tombstone.

Lately, we see a trend among people to write their official name in various ways, not adhering the rule and regulation. For example, some use their mother’s name or husband’s or wife’s name together like K Sujatha Mohan and Nagalingam Veeramah Shanmugam, the first name being their father’s name or his initial and last name as husband’s name. This is not the official way of writing the name. Probably, they do it to give their mothers, wives and husbands some form of honour and respect to them!

Any way there are specific rules and regulations pertaining to use of your official name. For example, an American will write his/her name this way James Thomas Collins or May Mary Maxwell, which consists of three names, the surname, family and personal name.  Likewise, the Indians write their name as Naveen Nathesan and Shameena Nathesan, with their personal name followed by their family name, i.e his father’s name. There are two ways of writing the official name, N. Nathesan or N. Shameena and the initial letter refers to the father’s name.

The Malays write their names as Mohammad bin Ismail and Aminah binti Harun. Sometimes the bin and binte is omitted as Mohamad Ismail and Aminah Harun. Where else, the Chinese write as Lim Chong Tong and Lim Mei Lin, and Lim being their surname or family name and the second and third name denotes the given name.

So, let us write our names according to the stipulated rule and not according our whims and fancies.  We should be proud and pleased to carry our official name as this was the name given by our parents when we were born. 

Patriotism of the 61st National Day Celebrations

Malaysia will celebrate its 61^st Independence Day with the theme ‘Sayangi Malaysiaku’ (Love My Malaysia) on 31 August 2018. We have barely a few more days before the celebrations.

Preparations are already underway for the grand celebrations, as said by our Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The theme chosen, says Gobind, is to celebrate and boost the people’s love towards this country.

The 61^st Merdeka Celebrations this year is unique in the sense that it will be the first time celebrated by a newly elected government, i.e. the Pakatan Harapan (PH) at the Federal Capital of Putrajaya as requested by our Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir. Gobind Singh said this decision was to symbolise the administration of the new government under Pakatan Harapan.

In the eve of forthcoming celebrations, let us take time to reflect on the import of the celebrations.

Independence generally means freedom. In the context of a nation, it denotes freedom from their colonial masters or from another ruling country. We obtained our independence from the British on the 31 of August 1957 without any bloodshed but through negotiations and finally ending with an independence treaty with the British.

The younger generation perhaps may not understand the untiring efforts and toils of our leaders to obtain this independence, unless they have learnt about their struggles in their history lessons.  

There are many ways people show their patriotism -- the feeling of loyalty and allegiance to a country. In our nation, we proudly display our Jalur Gemilang in our homes, offices and public places to show our allegiance to our beloved country. The Prime Minister recently said flying the Malaysian flag will strengthen the bonds between the people.

Some also display the Malaysian flag in their vehicles. A few hard-core Malaysians paint their cars with the Malaysian flag and parade with it during the merdeka season.  There are also some who wear the Malaysian flag as their outfits to show their patriotism.

There are also communities who organize Merdeka prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the nation, in particular the Baha’i community.  In these gatherings, all Malaysians, despite their religious background are invited to come together to pray for the nation. Prayers from all religious scriptures are recited. Such events truly signifies solidarity and unity among the participants at the event as the participants will be united in prayers and supplications for the nation. 

Of course, the highlight of Merdeka celebrations will be the national parade to be held on 31 August this time around at the Federal City of Putrajaya and also in all state capitals in the country.

In all these parades, national and state leaders will address the peoples of Malaysia who come from all walks of life to celebrate this national occasion. Those who are unable to come, will catch it over the media broadcast.

This is an event which we truly celebrate as Malaysians, not based on our ethic background. Perhaps, more such national events should be fostered by the PH government to instil the feeling of fidelity and patriotism towards the nation.

In achieving national unity, we should go beyond our parochial distinctiveness and racial identity. We need to think as Malaysians and citizens of one nation to achieve national unity and comradeship.

In conjunction with the coming of Merdeka celebrations, let us all wish our nation a happy and prosperous 61^st Merdeka Day. Long life Malaysia, My Malaysia.

MALAYSIAN FIRST, PLEASE

The recent 14^th General Elections (GE14) has taught us many useful lessons, some painful too,   especially for the political parties. Now the political parties in the country needs to take stock after looking at the results of the historic election ever held in the nation. Time has come now to rethink about the stand of all political parties.

The colonial masters practiced the principle of ‘divide and rule’ during their reign of our nation. Of course, this rule is now outdated, yet a few political parties still adhere to this outmoded principle. We see parties that are only open to a certain race and in that way it is only championing one race. This trend does not augur well for our nation which is multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual.

Today, we need political parties that speak for the rakyat, be it a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Eurasian, or even a Punjabi. As, all of them belong to this nation of ours, it is important the political parties speak for all of them. Although we are divided by own ethnic, language, religion, and culture, but all us belong to the family of one nation, Malaysia.  

We are Malaysians first, then comes our ethnicity. Look at the Americans, they constitute a population from different ethnic groups, but they are proud to call themselves as Americans, and wish to be known as Americans, not as an African, a Spaniard, a German, or a British.

Likewise, we should forget our ethnicity and feel honoured of being a Malaysian first, as aptly said by our present Finance Minister YB Lim Guan Eng at a press conference recently. We want this noble concept ‘I am a Malaysian first, then my ethnicity’ to be practiced by all Malaysian, be it young or old. Of course, this will be not easy going. We have to cross the ethnicity loop which actually divides us. We need to accept wholeheartedly the concept of a Malaysian, a patriotic feeling or a sense of togetherness among the peoples of Malaysia.

Let our future generations to be known as Malaysian and no more on based on our ethnicity, please.

Awarding state and federal accolades to our rakyat

The practice of bestowing honours and rewards to rakyat by the royalties can be traced to the Melaka Sultanate. This noble practice has been continued to the present day when the state governments and federal government confer titles and awards to the rakyat who have contributed significantly to the nation, be it in the field of education, medicine, science, social service, sports and so on. The dignified practice is still observed by many countries, like the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, in the recent times, the precious and noble awards have been misused by some quarters in the country. We read and hear about how even criminals and frauds have received the most coveted awards from the state and federal government.

We also have foreigners like cinema stars getting bestowals from the state governments. What is their contribution to our nation by these celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan from Mumbai, India or Radha Ravi from Chennai, Tamil Nadu? We also hear about money laundering in obtaining the awards from the government.

In such ways, genuine persons are deprived from receiving the awards. Instead, rather worthless and unscrupulous people only receiving the awards.

The practice of giving awards to politicians need to the looked anew again. In fact, the bulk of recipients seems to the politicians. Their contribution to our beloved nation is unquestionable at times. Practically, every political leader has some titles. In fact, some join politics to get perks including awards from government.

Whenever the list of names of receipts are published in the media, the politicians top the list and the ordinary rakyat’s list is just a handful. The politicians should serve the rakyat and identify their contributions and propose their deserving names to the government to get awards.

Of course, some state governments have been stringent in giving awards to their rakyat. This is most welcomed. Let the deserving ones get the awards, not any disreputable, undeserving and unworthy persons.

It is shameful to read that a Datuk being charged in court for criminal acts or a Tan Sri for illegal activities in the country. Awards like Datuk or Tan Sri carries a lot of respect and admiration. Let it not be tarnished by these unscrupulous persons. 

At this juncture, I earnestly appeal to the present government to look into all such malpractices in awarding titles and awards to the rakyat. Please ensure only genuine and the most deserving people get the rewards.

We also notice there are many deserving rakyat not getting or proposed to receive these precious awards. These people have given their best to the nation in their respective fields and domains. Alas, their contributions have gone unnoticed by the government and leaders. Many of these people have even passed away without getting any credits or awards from the government. Class, creed, colour should not be the criteria for selecting potential recipients, but rather credibility and excellence.

I believe the present Malaysia Baharu government and leaders will recognize those who have contributed immensely to the nation and thereby ensure their services and contributions are appreciated. These are the people that are to receive the most honoured titles and awards of the nation.

Spelling of place names in Malay

Many of the people in Malaysia have expressed their dissatisfaction over the spelling of places in Malay as the spelling does not adhere to the Sistem Ejaan Baharu which was introduced in the Malay Language to replace the older spelling system known as Ejaan Lama. The guidelines to spelling in Malay is explained clearly in the booklet called Pedoman Umum Ejaan Bahasa Malaysia, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in 1975.

As a linguist, let me explain that the existing names of places in Malay need not adhere to the spelling rule as stated in the Sistem Ejaan Baharu, prescribed by DBP, the guardian of the Malay Language and national language of Malaysia. According to DBP, the rule is only applicable to names of places after the year 1972. This means names of places will be retained in the original spelling as before. For example, the name of the place Air Itam in Penang and Air Hitam in Johor will be spelt as it was.  Likewise, names like Kota Bharu, Johor Bahru and Kuala Kubu Baharu will be spelt accordingly. Places like Tronoh, Bachok, Batu Anam, and Kuching, too will also retain the original spelling, and not spelt as Teronoh, Bacuk, Batu Enam and Kucing.  So, it warrants no change to the spelling of old names of places.  

DBP further explains that the geographic nomenclature of names of places that existed before 1972 will be retained by its original spelling. Naming a new place name now, that is, after 1972 needs to follow the coordinated Malay spelling. So, names of new places will be spelt according the rules of the language after the year 1972. We have new places like Iskandar Puteri in Johor, Setia Alam in Selangor, Bandar Indera Mahkota in Pahang, Seri Iskandar in Perak, and Hang Tuah Jaya in Melaka which are spelt according to the stipulated rule now.

I also wish to clarify that the determination of place names is not decided by DBP, but rather by the local authority of a state. The name will be decided after some considerations by the local authority. As previously mentioned, place names before 1972 retained the original spelling and place names after 1972 will  be spelled with the official spelling structure of the Malay language.

I hope this simple explanation clears the erroneous view of the people in the country about spelling of Malay names of places.

International Women's Day- where are we today?

This year the International Women's Day will be celebrated across the world on March 8 with its theme – Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030. At the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations, the issue of women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work will be debated.

Have we achieved the status of 50-50 in the workforce, government and as well as private sector in Malaysia? If not, can we achieve it by 2030? What about discrimination and prejudice against women in the workforce? What about the managerial position for women? These are some pertinent questions regarding the issue of gender equality.

Women are the other half of the human population. Women and men are like two wings of humanity. Inequality would surely hamper the flight of humankind to lofty heights of progress and development.

According to government statistics, we have about 50% of women in the civil service workforce. This means the other half are men. At the managerial position, women take up 35.65% of top level management posts in the government. According to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, there are 1,419 women at the top level management. This statistics show that the government is serious about gender equality.

Ali said measures would be taken to empower female leadership in the country's development, particularly towards making the 2050 National Transformation a reality. We also appreciate the government's stand in increasing the number of women in the workforce, including managerial positions in the years to come.

The story in the private sector is rather disappointing. Still it is a male-dominated sector. Women have also been severely discriminated in the workforce in the private sector. Despite having the credits and qualifications, women are always sidelined in jobs as more promotional positions are given to the men.

To cite an example, my daughter who works in the private sector has always been prejudiced and sidelined when she attends interviews for promotions, despite having better qualifications. Gender prejudice brings damaging effects not only to women but to society at large. Inequality also retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilisation itself.

Some private companies are dominated by men and by a certain ethnic group only. Men and women from other ethnic groups are not accepted in such companies. Even when the promotional post is advertised, it is outright discrimination when it states that only the selected ethnic group can apply for such posts.

We are a nation with many ethnic groups. We are all Malaysians and why should parochial ideas dominate the private sector. Jobs should be given to men or women, according to merit and qualification for the post, not based on gender or ethnicity.

There needs to be a new understanding to reshape our society based on gender equality.

All forms of discrimination should be discarded in the workforce, whether in the government or private society. Discrimination against women still remains the most widespread injustice in the world.

Award for Muar as a clean town

As a resident of Muar, I am delighted and honoured to read that Muar Town has been declared as one of five cleanest town in Johor (NST, 11 Dec 2016).  All the repute and applaud should be credited to the Local Municipal Council of Muar and the community for their excellent work and collaboration to achieve such as an accolade.

Such an award surely will inspire the Muarians to ensure cleanliness prevails throughout all times in the town. It gives us honour and prestige to be categorized as a clean town in Johor.  Muarians surely would want preserve this award dearly. We now stand tall among other towns in Johor and as well towns in the country. 

It is now the duty of all residents to preserve and sustain such a recognition throughout all times. This award will surely boost the morale of the residents to maintain cleanliness in all parts of the town.

Cleanliness although a physical thing, nevertheless influences the environment.  A proverb says "cleanliness is next to godliness". Therefore, cleanliness should become the hallmark among the residents of Muar.

Syabas and well done, the honourable President and the members of the Muar Municipal Council, and not forgetting the workers on the ground to maintain cleanliness in the town.