The media frenzy surrounding the PAS Supporters Congress (PSC) is seeking to blow the issue of hudud law further out of the proportion.
Their chairman, Hu Pang Chow, mentioned that he could not justify to their 20,000 members how hudud law could be implemented upon non-Muslims without prior consultation. He also took the PAS led Kelantan State Government to task, saying that they would take their support elsewhere if they did not receive an adequate explanation.
Personally, I do not like the idea of any citizen of our country being dismembered, even after being found guilty of a crime. However, hudud is well known to be Islamic law, which would be governed only by the Syariah courts if they ever were to be implemented.
Both Nik Aziz and Anwar Ibrahim have made it abundantly clear in the press that hudud would apply to Muslims only, and the rights of non-Muslims would not be affected. This is common sense, as Syariah law could never apply to a non-Muslim in Malaysia, nor could hudud law if it is ever implemented.
Put simply, the reason that there has been no road show about the implementation of hudud law is simply because immediate implementation is simply not possible! Only now has Nik Aziz ordered the set up of a committee to look into the legalities of enacting hudud law, but it would certainly require parliamentary approval to be given first, even if it is only meant to be in Kelantan.
Furthermore, as approval by parliament would almost be impossible, it would be unrealistic to suggest that the framework of hudud law could even be drawn up. Only if PAS became the majority party in parliament could such approval be sought. Given the current political structure of the country, hudud law should continue to be confined as a pipe dream.
The Prime Minister has openly criticised Pakatan Rakyat to be divided over the issue of Hudud, and on that basis they are not fit to govern the country. I would put it to the Prime Minister that there is also dissent within Barisan Nasional itself about certain policies, but because the culture of BN is so dependant on UMNO, no one dares to voice it out.
Hudud is also an item which is neither included in the Pakatan Rakyat "Buku Jingga", nor is it in their common framework policy. The three main parties within PR have differing ideals, but what they are united in is the goal to stamp out graft and corruption, liberalise the economy to become globally competitive, improve the education system, improve the country's infrastructure, enable press freedom, enable freedom of speech, guarantee "freedom after speech" and freedom of religion amongst other crucial reforms.
If the people of Kelantan are calling for hudud law, there should be a state-wide referendum to truly gauge whether this is the will of the people. If a referendum is impractical, all parts of Kelantanese society should still be consulted, to ensure that everyone is happy and comfortable with the proposals before acting. As a maturing democracy, all political parties must turn back to the people when considering such a major reform.
The hudud trick has once again been employed as an election strategy by a desperate UMNO/BN to instil fear and doubt back into the hearts of the people. Their modus operandi is to make the Rakyat fear the unknown, and make us believe that life would always be better under their oppressive regime.
The public should not be fooled by this sandiwara. If anything, it is UMNO who are dead against hudud law, as many of their leaders may find themselves with missing limbs!
Published in:
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/10/much-ado-about-hudud/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20860:too-much-ado-over-hudud&Itemid=2#)
Malaysian Digest (http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/33002-much-ado-about-hudud.html)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/178237)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Budget 2012: Too many goodies, not enough substance
After listening to Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak make the 2 hour budget
announcement on TV1, it really appears that it is business as usual for middle Malaysia
There are a couple of points which are of interest. Firstly, what hits
you immediately is the sheer size the budget. RM232.8 billion is a lot of
money, especially when we are looking at a 9.4% rise in expenditure. However,
the country's deficit will be reduced to 4.7% from 5.4% of GDP. How this is
going to be achieved is yet to be seen. However, the fact remains that in terms
of amount, it would be the biggest deficit in Malaysian history.
Economic growth expected at 5.0-5.5% for 2011 and growth of between 5-6% for 2012 despite tough economic conditions. Even if this is the case, there will be the fundamental question as to whether this would be enough to pay for our bills as a result of this budget?
Goodies galore across the board, from patients above 60 being exempted from outpatient registration fees, RM15 million for 150 futsal courts, RM200 vouchers for school children and the abolishment of school fees. A proposal taken from the Pakatan Rakyat "Buku Jingga" was a RM500 relief for families earning a household income of under RM3000. Apart from the futsal courts, these are welcomed steps taken by the BN government.
One part that I find particularly exciting is the tax exemption for donations to mission schools and houses of worship which is a big step in respecting the practice of other religions. However, in their sincerity, licenses for building places of worship should be dropped as well.
Good news for foreign investors include the liberalising of 17 services sub-sectors which would allow 100% foreign equity. This is not good news for local investors who are still subject to 40% bumi equity, which would have companies such as Genting and YTL taking money out of the country. Why are we giving incentives to foreigners at the expense of our own citizens?
Apart from the lifting of duties for hybrids until 2013, there is a complete absence in the mention of Green Technology. After the Prime Minister's vision of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as green technology centres, RM1.5 billion in soft loans for green technology companies and a pledge to reduce Malaysia's carbon footprint by 40% by 2025, why suddenly shelve it?
We just had a massive Green Technology exhibition in September called IGEM hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA). The minister Datuk Peter Chin was around for the entire duration of the event over 4 days, but in the end, was it all lip service to the environment?
The other losers are the middle income earners, and incentives for business. Although there is substantial allocations for entrepreneurs starting out new businesses, liberalising business by dropping taxes such as import taxes on cars or eliminating the controversial APs would have been a very popular move. No allocation for improving public transport and access would also disappoint the daily commuter.
What was extremely disappointing is the announcement of more mega projects such as the Coastal Highway JB-Nusa and the Taiping Heritage Tourism Project at a cost of RM978 million. These would certainly go into cost over-runs, be subject to closed tenders and croynism. No change from the past.
The big winners are the civil servants, who will be getting their half month bonuses, pay rises from 7-13% per annum, and a time based pay scheme for civil servants to climb pay grades faster. With 1.3 million civil servants, that is a massive number of voters which would be affected by this measure.
With all these goodies, it is certainly shaping up as an election budget. Our Prime Minister was careful to mention that the RM33.2 billion subsidies package would not be removed as a gesture of putting the "people first", but many still question why RON 95 is still RM1.90 despite oil prices falling.
There are many quick fixes and incentives, but the fundamental infrastructure of the nation has been ignored. Handouts cannot eradicate hardcore poverty, nor combat rising costs. There are no moves to make our economy more competitive or additional incentives to bring our overseas talent home.
To the Prime Minister's credit, it is not a bad budget. But given the fact that the money spent is merely aesthetic, and does not change the divisive, corrupt and oppressive system it is built on, Pakatan Rakyat is looking increasingly capable of being an effective government. Given the fact that the alternative budget was well received, and with the promise of accountable and graft free government, we may yet uncover billions more which Barisan Nasional has been concealing from the Rakyat.
Do your duty at GE-13 for your country!
Published In:
Malaysians Must Know the Truth (http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2011/10/budget-2012-too-many-goodies-not-enough.html)
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/sideviews/article/budget-2012-too-many-goodies-not-enough-substance-douglas-tan/)
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/07/too-many-goodies-not-enough-substance/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20786:budget-2012-too-many-goodies-not-enough-substance&Itemid=2)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/178093)
M'sian Chinese must read this: Get lost, MCA! I want to vote for PAS
It has become the tradition for MCA to use hudud to attack Pakatan Rakyat especially now when we are in the last lap to the 13th general election. Hudud is of course the part of the Islamic criminal law that pertains to 6 specific punishments that includes amputation of limbs, whipping and stoning to death.
But this time around, the shocking thing is how the Chinese community reacted in the scocial media network. No one rushed to condemn hudud, no one took pity on the MCA. On the contrary, they attacked MCA with gusto, hurling foul words at its political hypocrisy and cheating ways.
It is not surprising then that MCA vice president Gan Ping Sieu has quietly dropped his debate challenge to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over the hudud issue.
An accurate reflection of how the Chinese feel
Outstanding among the cyberspace scoldings heaped on the MCA is an article entitled Chinese Malaysians must read! MCA, I want to vote for PAS!
It was written by a writer nicknamed Yue, which means moon. The article was published by his friend on Facebook at around 2 pm on October 4, 2011. It went viral and in 48 hours it was shared by some 1,500 Facebook.
The article is a revelation of the mood of the Chinese. Although it is filled with derogatory words towards MCA, it is an accurate reflection of the sentiments of the Chinese community towards the MCA and why they are defending PAS.
Quite the opposite reaction from the previous years, when the community ran to the MCA for refuge against the extremists in PAS. Now, uppermost in the Chinese minds are how to scold MCA for bowing to Umno, while PAS is praised for having the courage to shift to the middle ground.
The Chinese community appears to appreciate the recent efforts made by PAS to open its doors and to try and explain its religious beliefs more freely to the non-Muslims.
It is archaic but ...
Nonetheless, this does not mean that the writer supports hudud law. Frankly, most Chinese do not support hudud. It does not belong in the present time and neither is it any good to say that non-Malays will not be affected.
The Chinese and Indians don't want to have their arms chopped off if they steal or to be stoned to death if they commit adultery. They don't want such horrible things to happen to their Malay friends either. If they didn't care and just said, never mind lah, only the Malays 'kena' or suffer, they would be very selfish people indeed. Don't you agree?
In any case, the writer Yue also acknowledges that hudud is part of PAS' ultimate goal and at the same is happy that political reality does not allow the implementation of hudud based on the Pakatan's Common Policy Framework and the Orange Book.
Lastly, the writer says if the Chinese really can't tolerate hudud, they can always switch back to the BN in GE-14.
Here is an edited version of "Chinese Malaysians must read! MCA, I want to vote for PAS!"
As a Chinese Malaysian, there is no Rocket or Keadlian contesting in my constituency, only a direct clash between UMNO and PAS. Now, I'm officially announcing it here - in the next GE, I will vote for PAS!
Looking at the MCA leaders attacking Islamic hudud laws during their annual general assembly on the pretext that they are protecting Malaysian multi-culturalism, I wish to say, MCA, go to hell!
As a Chinese in Malaysia, now I wish to tell MCA, in the next general election, I will vote for PAS! I don't wan to entertain you anymore!
Don't tell me that by forming an Islamic country, hands and feet will be chopped off. Malaysia under your rule and Umno - even Teoh Beng Hock can fall from a building! Cops can shoot as they please! Not to mention the ones that died in custody! Before our hands and feet are chopped off by PAS, we might die abused by you - the authorities!
MCA, a pathetic party, tarnishing PAS in the papers everyday. Do you know, PAS allocates land to 'support' Chinese secondary schools in Kelantan. In Perak, the same thing happened when a PAS leader was the Menteri Besar. @#@ MCA, you've been the government for many years, but failed to institutionalize allocations for Chinese schools, and now you're telling us not to vote for PAS, crazy!
@#@, MCA you are a huge party but in your general assembly, the time was used to attack Islamic idealism, but at the same time you quietly bow to Umno's narrow racist mind, what kind of a pathetic party is this? A pathetic party that cannot be saved!
When Umno attacked, saying Chinese are "immigrants", telling us to go back to Tongsan, it was PAS who came forward to defend us!
When Umno prohibits non-Muslims from using the word Allah, it was PAS who came forward to defend non-Muslims' rights!
When Umno prohibits non-Muslims from entering mosques and suraus, it was PAS who came forward to oppose Umno!
When the pro-Umno Perkasa attacked Pakatan Rakyat for betraying the Malays, it was PAS who came forward to stop them!
@#@, what are you doing, MCA? Only capable of saying Umno should not be like this, like that. If you are really great, why is is that the Chinese are still second class citizens? If you really do have a backbone, the get out of Barisan Nasional, stupid!
My anger is raging.For so long you've taken money, one PKFZ project you took RM12.5 billion, one Facebook you took RM1.8 million, and the other ones? You took the people's money!
PAS? Have you heard of PAS taking bribes? PAS is known for its honesty, 20 years of ruling Kelantan, not one corruption case, the Menteri Besar is still living in a 'kampung' house, eats nasi lemak! You guys simply say if you win you'll eat lobster, and you still want us to vote for you?"
MCA, get lost! When the Prime Minister announced he will abolish ISA because of pressure from the people, like a dog, you immediately agreed! @#@, for so long you've been supporting that draconian act, and now you've changed in a blink of an eye? You think the people are stupid?
For so long, PAS led the people to fight, either in the anti-ISA rally, Bersih 1.0 or Bersih 2.0, PAS is always in the front-line to fight against tyranny - facing tear gas, and water canons!
On 9 July, Umno attacked us for rallying on the streets. At a critical moment, Unit Amal PAS made way, and said "Let the Chinese out first, we protect them!" @#@, where were you MCA? Where did you hide at the time? Now you're telling us not to vote for PAS, to hell with you!
@#@, for so long you've been ruling us, that porn video president is still on the stage urging the government to do this and that. Have you ever thought of yourselves as the government? If you yourselves can't do it, then switch! Stupid!
The best thing is, Liow Tiong Lai, challenged DAP to get out of Pakatan Rakyat. When Islamic law was passed in Kelantan and Terengganu, Umno state assemblymen supported by raising both of their hands. Not one vote was given by DAP. Why don't you lead MCA to get out of Barisan Nasional?
PAS wants to implement hudud Laws, this is the party's ultimate goal. It is like the Progressive Democratic Party in Taiwan who fought for independence, which surely won't happen, because it is not allowed in the political reality.
Furthermore, PAS is cooperating with the other two party components in Pakatan Rakyat, who will surely govern based on the Orange Book - not just the ultimate goal of PAS or DAP. Maybe some will ask, what about Kelantan?
I would like to ask them, even if it is implemented in Kelantan, what's the fuss? If you're not a Muslim, what has it got anything to do with you? Furthermore, you should wait until PAS wins two-thirds majority to amend the constitution. For now, the government has yet to be even changed. Now with the amount of phantom voters, it would difficult for Pakatan Rakyat to win one third of the seats!
Still a lot of Chinese are saying, we'll die if the Pakatan Rakyat gets two-thirds majority. I say @#@, my foot, if Pakatan Rakyat wins two-third, DAP will surely have 50 seats. If DAP would not vote for it, there would be no amendments.
And then, more Chinese are asking, what if DAP become cowards and support the implementation of hudud laws? If you don't like it, then switch back to Barisan Nasional! Is it that there can't be no more elections after the change of government in the next GE? Aren't elections about giving us the opportunity to change the government if we don't agree with its policies?
Some Chinese are just stupid, I'm saying it openly here. If in the next election, we support a government that have been corrupt for so long, just because we are afraid of hudud laws that are not even there, then the Chinese are a real disgrace. The fate of the Chinese community will be destroyed by their own hands!
Wake up, and don't be fooled by MCA! Only when we vote for Rocket, Keadilan and Moon and unite to change this pathetic government can we fix the conditions of the Chinese community in the country.
If you love your race, if you love your people, if you love your country, share this writing with all your friends. In the next election, we sing together the song "Moon is the shape of my heart" (a famous Chinese song)!
Merdeka Review/Malaysia Chronicle
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Bersih Truth Hurts
While our Prime Minister receives accolades from most quarters for the repeal of archaic acts such as the Banishment Act 1959 and the Restricted Residence Act 1993, questions must be asked about when the true reforms would be made.
Only now has Najib Razak instructed the Attorney General to draft the two pieces of alternative legislation to the Internal Security Act, and he has continued to chide the opposition for claiming to be the champions of the repeal of the act. Clearly, the Prime Minister has not come prepared by announcing that the ISA would be abolished without having anything prepared to replace it.
The circus does not stop there. The Medical Device Authority act gives the police the authority to seize any medical devices as evidence with the approval of the Health Minister. In our system where Ministerial authority for criminal matters should be diminished, the wide scope of the act shows that this Barisan Nasional government is as authoritarian as ever, and has no intention to change.
Question Time was intriguing as it forced Ministers to come clean with the information behind their recent actions. Actions are not without consequences, and as it transpires, the justification given for their actions are nothing short of laughable.
No rally has been publicised as much as Bersih 2.0, branded by the mainstream media as the July 9th illegal rally. Home Minister Hishammudin Hussein has been put under an enormous amount of scrutiny as to how the event was handled, and now the spotlight has been redirected at him as he attempts to explain the actions taken and the cost.
As we all now know, there were over 11,000 police personnel at a cost in excess of RM2 million borne by the taxpayers. This enormous figure compared with their official claims that only 6,000 people turned up for the rally and that almost 1,700 people were arrested smacks of inefficiency and waste in itself!
Or could it be that there were really 50,000 on the ground that day and the police presence and cost was a proportional response to keep public order? The Home Ministry can argue about the facts, but when it comes to footing the bill, it becomes difficult to justify the sheer cost of it all.
Repealing the ISA would make Malaysia the best democracy in the world, chimes the Prime Minister, but the Home Minister continues to deem Bersih as an illegal organisation as they intended to "overthrow the government".
This line of reasoning is a result of paranoia rather than fact. The intent was to reform the electoral system, not to overthrow the government! This is not a justification, rather just a convenient, albeit far fetched, explanation to defend the indefensible.
Finally, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai once again has egg on his face. After his public denial that no tear gas or chemical laced water was shot at Tung Shin Hospital, the Home Ministry report conceding that the police has breached their own Standard Operating Procedures is a massive slap on the face.
After all the fuss about Lim Guan Eng apologising for his gaff about Johor security, can we also expect an apology from the Health Minister? Or shall we expect more excuses, and the same holier-than-thou hypocrisy that we are used to?
Either way, BN have displayed their true colours yet again by failing to walk the talk. With these half-hearted measures taken to reforms, they are asking for punishment from the Raykat in the looming General Elections.
Published in:
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/06/the-bersih-truth-hurts/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20653:the-bersih-truth-hurts&Itemid=2#
Malaysian Digest (http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/32724-the-bersih-truth-hurts.html)
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43946-the-bersih-truth-hurts)
Only now has Najib Razak instructed the Attorney General to draft the two pieces of alternative legislation to the Internal Security Act, and he has continued to chide the opposition for claiming to be the champions of the repeal of the act. Clearly, the Prime Minister has not come prepared by announcing that the ISA would be abolished without having anything prepared to replace it.
The circus does not stop there. The Medical Device Authority act gives the police the authority to seize any medical devices as evidence with the approval of the Health Minister. In our system where Ministerial authority for criminal matters should be diminished, the wide scope of the act shows that this Barisan Nasional government is as authoritarian as ever, and has no intention to change.
Question Time was intriguing as it forced Ministers to come clean with the information behind their recent actions. Actions are not without consequences, and as it transpires, the justification given for their actions are nothing short of laughable.
No rally has been publicised as much as Bersih 2.0, branded by the mainstream media as the July 9th illegal rally. Home Minister Hishammudin Hussein has been put under an enormous amount of scrutiny as to how the event was handled, and now the spotlight has been redirected at him as he attempts to explain the actions taken and the cost.
As we all now know, there were over 11,000 police personnel at a cost in excess of RM2 million borne by the taxpayers. This enormous figure compared with their official claims that only 6,000 people turned up for the rally and that almost 1,700 people were arrested smacks of inefficiency and waste in itself!
Or could it be that there were really 50,000 on the ground that day and the police presence and cost was a proportional response to keep public order? The Home Ministry can argue about the facts, but when it comes to footing the bill, it becomes difficult to justify the sheer cost of it all.
Repealing the ISA would make Malaysia the best democracy in the world, chimes the Prime Minister, but the Home Minister continues to deem Bersih as an illegal organisation as they intended to "overthrow the government".
This line of reasoning is a result of paranoia rather than fact. The intent was to reform the electoral system, not to overthrow the government! This is not a justification, rather just a convenient, albeit far fetched, explanation to defend the indefensible.
Finally, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai once again has egg on his face. After his public denial that no tear gas or chemical laced water was shot at Tung Shin Hospital, the Home Ministry report conceding that the police has breached their own Standard Operating Procedures is a massive slap on the face.
After all the fuss about Lim Guan Eng apologising for his gaff about Johor security, can we also expect an apology from the Health Minister? Or shall we expect more excuses, and the same holier-than-thou hypocrisy that we are used to?
Either way, BN have displayed their true colours yet again by failing to walk the talk. With these half-hearted measures taken to reforms, they are asking for punishment from the Raykat in the looming General Elections.
Published in:
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/06/the-bersih-truth-hurts/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20653:the-bersih-truth-hurts&Itemid=2#
Malaysian Digest (http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/32724-the-bersih-truth-hurts.html)
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43946-the-bersih-truth-hurts)
Deplorable State of English
The ability to communicate effectively is what makes or breaks a business. As a person involved in the management of a public listed company, we all know that our companies are as strong as our weakest link.
Therefore, the recruitment of good people has become a pseudo art form, with head hunting agencies pouring through potential candidates and our own human resource department, thumbing through job applications one by one to determine who is worth their salt.
With this in mind, I have become increasingly discouraged of late with the quality of candidates applying for positions in my company. The issue is not so much the pay, as opposed to the grey matter between their ears.
Although this is perhaps not such a major problem for middle or higher management, the language abilities of the candidates I had to interview of late have been extremely poor. When the business requires one to deal with foreign clients, can you possibly ask them to converse in Malay or Chinese?
Of the ten candidates who have sat across from me who applied for the position of a sales executive, I can confidently say that only one could hold a decent conversation with me. The rest were uneasy, shifting in their shoes, with some to the point that I had to allow them to speak Chinese or Malay in order to express themselves. Is this how it should be?
Personally I find that by allowing them to speak their mother tongue, I am probably wasting my time. If my customer in the UK or US are unable to understand their e-mails or their verbal explanations, is that not going to be more costly than not to have them at all?
The level of education is no longer a factor to determine one's proficiency in the English language any longer. I had recently interviewed a masters degree holder from a top local university who was clearly unable to string a grammatically correct sentence together. What hope is there then for the fresh graduates who are looking for employment?
Poor English skills is also giving rise to overall deterioration in customer service. In the United States, staff are trained to address the customer as "Sir", "Madam" or "Ms." and they use words and phrases such as "Certainly", "Not a problem" and "How else may I be of service today?" This is in stark comparison to the "Ya, OK" responses which we are so accustomed to.
Is this a fundamental problem with our education system? Should we not be looking to make English taught at school more practical for everyday usage with more emphasis on oral skills?
Columnist Erna Mahyuni on The Malaysian Insider commented today that our kids no longer can read or comprehend English literature. Although this is heart-wrenching enough, I would go so far to submit that in 10 years time, our kids would not longer be able to speak English let alone read it.
Does this mean we get rid of Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese as mediums of instruction? Absolutely not! Parents should have every right to choose what medium of instruction their children should partake in. There is no doubt we all should be proficient at Bahasa Malaysia as it is our Bahasa Kebangsaan.
However, we need to observe education systems in countries where their populations are proficient in English although it is not their mother tongue. Those from Nordic countries, Germany, and the Netherlands are famous for their ability to communicate in English despite it being rarely spoken amongst their own people. The Education Ministry should take a leaf out of their book to see how to reform our current system rather than stick to the status quo.
The PMR English exam is being sat across the country today. I pray that these kids do not underestimate the value of the language, and when they eventually come out to work in the next couple of years would enable Malaysia to take that step up towards a more confident, international nation.
Published in:
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/05/deplorable-state-of-english/)
The Star Newspaper (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/6/focus/9640145&sec=focus)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20714:manglish-malaysians-deplorable-state-of-english&Itemid=2)
Therefore, the recruitment of good people has become a pseudo art form, with head hunting agencies pouring through potential candidates and our own human resource department, thumbing through job applications one by one to determine who is worth their salt.
With this in mind, I have become increasingly discouraged of late with the quality of candidates applying for positions in my company. The issue is not so much the pay, as opposed to the grey matter between their ears.
Although this is perhaps not such a major problem for middle or higher management, the language abilities of the candidates I had to interview of late have been extremely poor. When the business requires one to deal with foreign clients, can you possibly ask them to converse in Malay or Chinese?
Of the ten candidates who have sat across from me who applied for the position of a sales executive, I can confidently say that only one could hold a decent conversation with me. The rest were uneasy, shifting in their shoes, with some to the point that I had to allow them to speak Chinese or Malay in order to express themselves. Is this how it should be?
Personally I find that by allowing them to speak their mother tongue, I am probably wasting my time. If my customer in the UK or US are unable to understand their e-mails or their verbal explanations, is that not going to be more costly than not to have them at all?
The level of education is no longer a factor to determine one's proficiency in the English language any longer. I had recently interviewed a masters degree holder from a top local university who was clearly unable to string a grammatically correct sentence together. What hope is there then for the fresh graduates who are looking for employment?
Poor English skills is also giving rise to overall deterioration in customer service. In the United States, staff are trained to address the customer as "Sir", "Madam" or "Ms." and they use words and phrases such as "Certainly", "Not a problem" and "How else may I be of service today?" This is in stark comparison to the "Ya, OK" responses which we are so accustomed to.
Is this a fundamental problem with our education system? Should we not be looking to make English taught at school more practical for everyday usage with more emphasis on oral skills?
Columnist Erna Mahyuni on The Malaysian Insider commented today that our kids no longer can read or comprehend English literature. Although this is heart-wrenching enough, I would go so far to submit that in 10 years time, our kids would not longer be able to speak English let alone read it.
Does this mean we get rid of Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese as mediums of instruction? Absolutely not! Parents should have every right to choose what medium of instruction their children should partake in. There is no doubt we all should be proficient at Bahasa Malaysia as it is our Bahasa Kebangsaan.
However, we need to observe education systems in countries where their populations are proficient in English although it is not their mother tongue. Those from Nordic countries, Germany, and the Netherlands are famous for their ability to communicate in English despite it being rarely spoken amongst their own people. The Education Ministry should take a leaf out of their book to see how to reform our current system rather than stick to the status quo.
The PMR English exam is being sat across the country today. I pray that these kids do not underestimate the value of the language, and when they eventually come out to work in the next couple of years would enable Malaysia to take that step up towards a more confident, international nation.
Published in:
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/05/deplorable-state-of-english/)
The Star Newspaper (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/6/focus/9640145&sec=focus)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=20714:manglish-malaysians-deplorable-state-of-english&Itemid=2)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Reforms smokescreen?
Credit must be given to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for announcing the abolition of the infamous Internal Security Act, and the lifting of three states of emergencies, and along with that the Emergency Ordinance. It is our hope that without these laws, detention without trial in Malaysia shall now forever be confined to the annals of history.
The Prime Minister has won his plaudits, most noticeably from the United States, and rightfully so. I mean why not give the man credit for what he appears to be doing, even if it is for the wrong reasons?
If our nation, which has been plagued by oppressive laws even before independence, can boast ourselves to be a progressive democracy, the detention of political leaders, NGO heads not forgetting newspaper reporters has to been gotten rid of.
Naturally this optimism of reforms have been dampened somewhat by his announcement that there shall be two alternative laws which would then place preventative measures in place to counter terrorism, safeguarding public order and put in place race relations legislation.
The fear is that these laws may be sufficiently ambiguous for politicians to be detained without trial under the purview of these new laws. Datuk Seri Nazri announced that these laws would not be repressive, but as I know the learned Minister would understand that this is wholly dependant on the scope of these laws and their enforcement.
Furthermore, the two safeguards Nazri mentioned are sufficiently ambiguous that they can be subject to abuse. The first safeguard is that one cannot be detained on the basis of political belief. The second is that extended detention can only be approved by the courts.
The first safeguard is purely the subject of interpretation. Where the police would see fit to charge a politician giving a ceramah regarding views that he or she may have about religious practice, under the new law they can be detained.
I would go so far to submit that there no one was detained under the ISA based purely on political beliefs or alignment. Looking at the history of ISA detention, it is more as to what they had said, written or done which had landed them in hot soup with the government, not so much their political leanings.
When elements of speeches can be taken out of context, and the charges framed to interpret those elements as subversive, inciting racial hatred or disruptive to public order, charges under the new laws can certainly be laid.
Perhaps the second issue, which is the judiciary would be of another concern. This would be a safeguard only if we knew our judiciary were an independent body. With the farce of the Anwar Ibrahim case continuing, public opinion would not favour the judiciary to protect the interests of the public rather than the government of that day.
If we were to have an independent and competent judiciary, our legal system would flourish. Would there still be bias? Certainly. However, we shall be assured that there would be no element of coercion for judges to make decisions pleasing to their political masters.
In order for the Prime Minister to prove the sincerity about the reforms to be made, he should also ensure that there should be stringent laws forced against any interference in the judicial process. Judicial reforms would additionally have a positive impact on the economy and boost foreign investor confidence.
Perhaps the subsequent string of attacks on the opposition parties were not particularly fair. Yes, Najib is responsible for announcing the abolition of the ISA, but the constant pressure from the Opposition, NGOs and the Rakyat certainly led to the action finally being taken.
Smear campaigns are certainly part of politics and Pakatan Rakyat has to quickly re-brand and re-position themselves for the upcoming elections. There is no doubt that the Prime Minister's image has improved as a result of this, but will it be a political smokescreen or is it possible that the Barisan Nasional leadership can actually show some forward thinking?
We will be watching closely.
Published in:
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/reforms-smokescreen-douglas-tan/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=19779:reforms-smokescreen?&Itemid=2#)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/176440)
Free Malaysia Today(http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/21/reforms-a-smokescreen/)
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43597-reforms-smokescreen)
We will be watching closely.
Published in:
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/reforms-smokescreen-douglas-tan/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=19779:reforms-smokescreen?&Itemid=2#)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/176440)
Free Malaysia Today(http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/21/reforms-a-smokescreen/)
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43597-reforms-smokescreen)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Lip service laced with poison
Ever since I was young, my father has taught me that when
you tell lies, it is far more difficult to remain consistent. You have to tell
a lie to cover up the original lie, and you also have to remember what the
original lie was in the first place. I believe that once you enter into
politics, you should know that the truth always catches up on you, and when you
begin to flip-flop, people will hold it against you.
Right now, consumers across the nation using pre paid
mobiles will experience a 6% government tax now charged directly to them. The
BN government cried out that the telcos should absorb the cost, but as a
government supposedly committed to putting the people first, passing the buck
back to the finance ministry agreement places their sincerity to actively
manage our cost of living into serious question.
During the whole Bersih fiasco, Najib had promised a
stadium for the rally to be held, despite the fact that Bersih is an outlawed
entity that happened to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Without going into the legality of authorising an illegal organisation to have
a rally at all, Najib went on to claim that he intended for Shah Alam stadium
to be used AFTER the rally had taken place in Kuala Lumpur
Following Bersih, our Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai,
comes out with the absurd statement that Tung Shin Hospital
When the doctors of Tung Shin came out to condemn his
statement, he was left with a red face after being exposed. His promised
enquiry never came about with a finding, and his has to live in the humiliation
of being called a bare-faced liar for the rest of his political career.
Another issue which is still ongoing is to do with the
reform of the electoral roll. Our Election Commission is guilty of saying that
they are powerless to do anything, whilst their subsequent actions behind the
scenes shows clearly that they do.
Out of everything they said they could not do, one of their
major flip-flops was when they claimed that without parliamentary legislation,
they were unable to extend postal voting to Malaysian citizens living abroad.
Only a few weeks later, they announced that from the next elections, all
Malaysians living overseas shall be able to cast their vote at the respective
embassies.
The mainstream media screamed this from their front page
headlines and there was mumbled praise from several factions. What happened to
the requirement for parliamentary reform? How are they suddenly able to take
their own initiative to make changes when parliament only reconvenes in
October?
I believe the members of the public are tired of the
constant stream of misinformation being published online, on blogs and in the
mainstream media coming from the government and at times the opposition. Right
now, the Rakyat are hungry for real leadership.
The incompetence and lack of integrity which is exhibited
by some of our so-called leaders is beginning to strain the trust of even their
staunchest followers. Pakatan would do well to remember this if they ever go
into power that saying one thing and doing another would spell doom for their
political future.
We would all do well to remember the saying "Trust
is difficult to gain but easily lost".
Published on:
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43368-lip-service-laced-with-poison)
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/lip-service-laced-with-poison-douglas-tan/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=19170:lip-service-laced-with-poison-the-lies-that-bn-tell&Itemid=2)
Lim Kit Siang's Blog (http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/09/11/lip-service-laced-with-poison/#more-15554)
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/12/lip-service-laced-with-poison/)
Malaysians Must Know The Truth (http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2011/09/lip-service-laced-with-poison.html)
Negara Kita (http://www.negarakita.com/Post-265514-Lip+Service+Laced+with+poison)
MCOS (https://mocsarawak.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/lip-service-laced-with-poison-the-lies-told-by-bn/)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/175554)
Malaysian Digest (http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/30996-lip-service-laced-with-poison.html)
Published on:
Malaysia Today (http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/letterssurat/43368-lip-service-laced-with-poison)
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/lip-service-laced-with-poison-douglas-tan/)
Malaysia Chronicle (http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=19170:lip-service-laced-with-poison-the-lies-that-bn-tell&Itemid=2)
Lim Kit Siang's Blog (http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/09/11/lip-service-laced-with-poison/#more-15554)
Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/12/lip-service-laced-with-poison/)
Malaysians Must Know The Truth (http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2011/09/lip-service-laced-with-poison.html)
Negara Kita (http://www.negarakita.com/Post-265514-Lip+Service+Laced+with+poison)
MCOS (https://mocsarawak.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/lip-service-laced-with-poison-the-lies-told-by-bn/)
Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/175554)
Malaysian Digest (http://www.malaysiandigest.com/opinion/30996-lip-service-laced-with-poison.html)
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