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 Of course, this rule is now outdated, yet a few political parties still adhere to this outmoded principle.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. 

Award for Non-Malay Writer by Johor Government

Award to Non-Malay Writer

Loan words in Malay Vocabulary

As a Malay linguist, I am duty-bound to elucidate the issue of vocabulary borrowing in Malay Language. 

First, we should understand that the Malay Language has been significantly enriched by loan words and phrases over the years from many languages via language contact, from Sanskrit to English language. Therefore, we owe a lot of words from these languages. 

Etymological studies conducted has ascertained this linguistic fact and truth. Influx of borrowed words do not in any way kill a language, including Malay Language. Rather, it is an appropriate way to develop a language, particularly the vocabulary.

Borrowing is part and parcel of language development. It is an essential element in vocabulary development. More than 80 percent of the current English words is said to be borrowed words from European, Latin and other languages. Does this mean English is a ‘polluted’ or ‘corrupted’ language?

In language, borrowing synonymous words for existing Malay words has become a norm and trend among users. We have many such words in Malay that were actually borrowed from other languages to become an alternate word, like aktiviti (activity) for kegiatan,  politik (politics) for siasah and program  (programme) for rancangan. As to the use the ban (bund) in Malay, the word has been long accepted in Kamus Dewan as an alternative word to permatang. Nothing is wrong in the usage of this word.

To avoid coining words and borrowing words according to the whim and fancy of users, rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that the borrowing is done in accordance to the guidelines and rules of Malay Language.

We must also understand that not all words that are used are accepted as the standard form in Malay Language. Coined new words whether borrowed or coined, need to adhere to certain rules and regulations stipulated by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), the guardian of the Malay Language in Malaysia. 

For example, the popularly used word bajet (budget) is not a standard word but rather a colloquial one. If you look into Kamus Dewan 4^th Edition, the word bajet is categorized as kata basahan (colloquial word). The standard word, of course, is belanjawan.

Malay Language is truly a beautiful language. Borrowing words does not in any way tarnish or spoil the beauty of the language. Does the classical Malay texts, like Sejarah Melayu which is plenty of Sanskrit and Arabic words, in any way diminish the beauty of the language?

As said by our eminent Malay linguist, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Karim, borrowing is one facet of language development. Let us not be unduly perturbed by the use of borrowed words in the Malay Language. Accept it a norm and allow borrowing to enrich the vocabulary of our national language.