The Star Online > Nation

Monday June 4, 2007

Back to Bahasa Malaysia

By WONG CHUN WAI and AUDREY EDWARDS

newsdesk@thestar.com.my 

KUALA LUMPUR: Bahasa Malaysia will again be the official term to be used to refer to the national language. 

Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin

All ministries, public universities and local institutions of higher learning have been directed to inform their relevant departments and agencies to begin using the term Bahasa Malaysia in letters, notices and documents with immediate effect.  

It is understood that the heads of the various ministries are sending out these directives following the Cabinet order.  

“The Malay language belongs to Malaysians of all races and not just the Malays. The term Bahasa Malaysia would instil a sense of belonging,” Zainuddin told The Star yesterday.  

He said the term Bahasa Malaysia was introduced by Tunku Abdul Rahman after the country's independence to inculcate a Malaysian identity.  

“It was generally accepted and no one asked for a change until (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim became the education minister (in 1986). 

“He dropped the term Bahasa Malaysia for Bahasa Melayu and it has remained that way. But now, we feel we should go back to the original term,” he said.  

“RTM will use the term Bahasa Malaysia to refer to the Malay language from now. I have also instructed all private television and radio stations to comply. 

“All newspapers, irrespective of language, will also have to refer to the language as Bahasa Malaysia,” he said. 

By using the term Bahasa Malaysia, he said a psychological barrier would be removed, not just for Malays but also other races.  

“The Malays, for example, must not see Bahasa Malaysia as a language used (solely) by themselves. If Malays truly want to promote the language regionally or globally, they should not be worried if others use it for religious reasons such as their books and sermons. 

“Similarly, non-Malays would also not see the language as a Malay language but a language that belongs to them,” he said. 

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the move “is to show that the language does not belong to just one race.”  

“This is for national unity,” he said. 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the decision was most timely “as we celebrate the country’s 50th national day”.  

“The term Bahasa Malaysia is more appropriate as it will build a greater sense of nationalism for all Malaysians,” Chan, who is also MCA deputy-president, said.  

Concurring, MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan said the term Bahasa Malaysia was an original one was accepted by most Malaysians.  

The Star Online > Nation

Monday June 4, 2007

DPM on Bahasa Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet’s move to revert to the term Bahasa Malaysia to refer to the national language should not be turned into a polemic issue, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Government came to the decision because it was of the opinion that the national language should be a language for all races. 

"We don’t want this matter to become a major polemic," he told reporters after the opening ceremony of the World Tourism Conference themed “Tourism Success Stories and Shooting Stars” here on Monday. 

“We all know that the national language means the Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) but we want the language to belong to all Malaysians regardless of race, ethnic groups and so on.  

"So, by referring to the language as Bahasa Malaysia means that the language belongs to all of us.”  

He was asked to respond to The Star’s banner report on the Cabinet’s decision. 

It was reported that all ministries, public universities and local institutions of higher learning have been directed to inform their relevant departments and agencies to begin using the term Bahasa Malaysia in letters, notices and documents with immediate effect. 

It is understood that the heads of the various ministries are also sending out these directives following the Cabinet order. 

Najib said the move was also aimed at promoting unity, integration, togetherness and usage of the language among Malaysians. 

Tunku Abdul Rahman introduced the term Bahasa Malaysia after the country’s independence to inculcate a Malaysian identity. 

However, when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became the education minister in 1986, he dropped the term Bahasa Malaysia for Bahasa Melayu. 

Related Stories:
Back to Bahasa Malaysia
 

The Star Online > Nation

Thursday May 24, 2007

Malaysians a gullible lot, says Minister

PUTRAJAYA: Gullible. That is what Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has labelled Malaysians who continue to seek the services of those unqualified to carry out cosmetic surgery. 

"The rakyat can do more than the ministry. If the rakyat were not so trusting, then there will not be a problem," he told reporters Thursday after launching the Kuala Lumpur OIC Health Ministerial Conference 2007 website. 

"And why they can survive in Malaysia is because the people here are so gullible. There is no shortcut to beauty." 

Dr Chua also expanded on the naivet้ of Malaysians when it came to consuming vitamins and food supplements where the ministry's nutrition survey showed that 20% of them were on such items even though their dietary intake was adequate. 

He was earlier responding to a question on why the number of botched cosmetic surgeries was increasing in the country. 

The most recent was a 31-year old woman who was given a botched boob job in November 2005 after a so-called Taiwanese surgeon injected her. She has since been advised to remove both breasts, as they have become cancerous. 

The woman said she had paid RM6,400 and that the procedure was carried out in a hotel room. 

Adding that the ministry's powers were limited in the matter, Dr Chua added that for every case reported, there were at least an estimated five to 10 cases that remained unreported. 

"I cannot understand why in Malaysia, they are so easily influenced by word of mouth and underground advertising. They are willing to part with about RM10,000 for breast enlargement, nose beautification, eyelid operation and some "private part" operation," he said. 

"We hope that Malaysians will not be easily influenced." 

He said people could check with the Malaysian Medical Council if a doctor was qualified and allowed to practise in the country. 

When asked if many Malaysians had lodged complaints with the ministry, he said most people affected by botched cosmetic jobs would not do so because they were shy and knew that complaining would not be effective as the doctor or practitioner had already disappeared. 

"What we know is what we read in the newspapers," he said. 

He added that Malaysians must be aware that a surgery or operation could not be conducted in a hotel room; besides, if the surgeon was famous, he need not "hide in the hotel". 

On the consumption of vitamins and food supplements, Dr Chua said that Malaysians continued to do so even though most doctors advised them that it was unnecessary. 

"They keep on buying and taking them based on some promotions or sales, and that it is good to make their bones stronger or skin smoother," he said. 

"They just consume everyday without knowing what is inside. That is the reason why vitamins and food supplements are doing very well."

The Star Online > Nation

Thursday May 24, 2007

Punish parents for sins of their children, says Johari

PUTRAJAYA: Police should get tough and charge parents of wayward children with negligence if they did not provide proper supervision, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum said. 

He said the lack of parental guidance and supervision had led to a host of problems, including drug abuse among youths, Mat Rempit (illegal motorcycle racers) menace and runaway children.  

He said every parent must exercise “reasonable supervision” in raising their children and must know of their whereabouts and who they mixed with.  

“We still see teenage boys loitering around the city in the wee hours. There are 1,914 children still reported missing in the country,” Johari told reporters after witnessing a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between the ministry and Perbadanan Negri Selangor Bhd / Glomac Rawang Sdn Bhd to build a RM25mil National Anti-Dadah Agency (AADK) training centre in Dengkil. 

“The law must be strictly enforced by the police and all other relevant agencies. If a child goes missing because of the parents’ negligence, then the father or mother must be charged,” he said, adding that Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 could be used.  

“In Britain, police will haul up the parents of an underage child caught for minor offences, and for loitering in prohibited areas,” he pointed out. 

On the pay rise for the police, Johari urged members of the force to work harder to reduce crime. 

On the drug rehabilitation programme, he said efforts were being made to educate the public to accept reformed addicts into society.  

AADK director-general Sabran Napiah said that over the first three months of the year the number of new addicts and relapse cases had dropped 46.71% compared with the same period last year.  

The Star Online > Nation

Thursday May 10, 2007

Police escort riders must obey traffic rules

By RASHITHA A. HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR: Police escort riders must follow the speed limit while on duty just like other road users, said Federal traffic chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Nooryah Md Anvar. 

“There are no special privileges given to traffic policemen. They have to obey the traffic rules. 

“This is to ensure that they do not pose a danger to other motorists while they are on duty,” she said, adding that the escort riders’ motorbikes had sirens which could be heard from 100m away. 

She was commenting on public grouses that some police escorts pose a danger in the manner they rode their vehicles while on duty. 

Meanwhile, Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) deputy chairman Hisham Harun Hashim urged motorists not to tailgate ambulances as there was a high risk of collision. 

“Ambulance drivers are professionally trained to drive at high speed. If they stop suddenly, accidents can occur,” he said. 

On Friday, SAC II Nooryah said drivers could be fined RM300 if they trail or obstruct ambulances, fire engines or VIP motorcades. 

She was commenting on the accident in Kuala Terengganu last month when two traffic cops escorting the Regent of Terengganu were killed when they rammed into a car which came to a sudden halt at a junction.  

The Star Online > Nation

Friday May 11, 2007

Mufti: Muslims can use cutlery in non-Muslim homes

PETALING JAYA: There is no need for Muslims to be overly concerned with the cutlery used at the homes of their non-Muslim friends, says Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin. 

He said that as long as the food served was halal, there should be no worries about consuming it, adding that some Muslims were known to have reservations using cups, plates and other utensils in non-Muslim homes.  

Dr Asri said these Muslims feared these everyday utensils could be “tainted” with non-halal substances but he said such concerns were unfounded. 

“It is not necessary or obligatory for Muslims to be unreasonably cautious of these ‘unseen possibilities’. 

“What’s the use of paying a visit to the homes of our non-Muslims friends if we feel we can’t eat or drink there?” he said, in response to a question posed by a reader in the mufti’s weekly column on mStar Online, the Malay news portal of The Star. 

Dr Asri expressed his disappointment with the prevalence of the misconception, which he described as “rubbish”. 

“I am disappointed with such interpretations of Islam. The religion urges us to think; it heightens our intelligence. But these opinions only make a person less than intelligent .” 

He also said Islam viewed acts that promoted good-neighbourliness and the strengthening of social bonds with non-Muslims as a positive thing. 

“For Muslims, there is religious merit in doing good to both other Muslims and non-Muslims. 

“This is a humanitarian issue and concerns the values of a civilised religion,” he said. 

Dr Asri’s column, which kicked off last week, has generated considerable feedback in the form of comments and questions from Malaysians in the country and abroad. 

Non-Muslim readers have written in to express their thanks for his comments last week, in which he said that Muslims should not be offended if non-Muslims used the salam to greet them. 

Several readers said they had been reprimanded by some Muslims for doing so.  

Readers, both Muslims and non-Muslims, are invited to send in their queries to the mufti. E-mail the questions, in English or Malay, to mufti@thestar.com.my.  

The Star Online > Nation

Friday May 11, 2007

Maybank issue a lesson to all, says Hisham

KUALA LUMPUR: The Maybank issue, which created controversy and drew much criticism, should be a lesson to all Malaysians, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said. 

He said that as the country moved towards its 50th year of independence, such matters should not arise, and added that in multi-racial Malaysia, every small thing could become sensitive. 

“Maybe their approach was not right but the matter should have been between the two parties only. This is not something that should have been brought to the Cabinet, “ he said after a meeting with Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Thai Education Minister Prof Dr Wichit Srisa-an at his ministry yesterday . 

On Wednesday, the Cabinet directed Maybank, the country’s largest bank, to withdraw its requirement that law firms must have a bumiputra partner with at least a 50% stake before they could do any business with it. 

The Cabinet discussed the move, which many criticised as discriminatory, and felt the bank's stand was not in line with government policy. The Finance Ministry had also not issued any such directive to banks. 

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen urged all government-linked companies, especially financial institutions, to abide by the Cabinet decision as they must understand that they had a role in nation-building and had to compete in a globalised world. 

“The Cabinet decision does not just affect Maybank. All GLCs and agencies should understand the spirit behind the decision,” the Wanita MCA chief said yesterday. 

Bar Council chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan commended the Cabinet for its decision to lead the way in removing discriminatory practices but said the situation should not have necessitated Cabinet action. 

“It would have been proper for Bank Negara to order the bank to do so,” she said. 

On AmBank’s statement that it only required law firms to have a bumiputra but made no stipulation on the level of equity, Ambiga said: “The level of equity is irrelevant. It’s still discrimination. No company has the right to stipulate the racial composition of firms that it will give work to; this is certainly no way to deal with professionals.” 

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng refuted Ambank’s statement, saying the party could not accept the bank’s requirement to law firms, and produced a letter dated April 17 that was sent out by the bank’s legal and compliance department. 

On Wednesday, AmBank had said no restrictions or quota of shares were imposed, saying it did appoint legal firms that did not have bumiputra partners but encouraged firms to have bumiputra partners.  

Related Story:
Maybank adheres to Cabinet order
 

The Star Online > Nation

Saturday May 12, 2007

PM: Maybank must be fair to all

KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank should always be “fair and just” to all, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 

The Prime Minister said the bank’s requirement that legal firms dealing with them must have a bumiputra partner with at least a 50% stake was never a government directive. 

“It was their own internal administrative policy,” he said. 

Following criticisms, the country’s biggest bank reversed this internal guideline and said it would elect its panel of lawyers based on efficiency, performance and merit, and not ethnic composition. 

However, a Malay newspaper reported yesterday that Malay intellectuals were asking for Maybank to retain the 50% bumiputra stake requirement. 

Asked about this, Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, said there was “no need to ask Maybank to do this and that.” 

“They know what is needed,” he added. 

On Wednesday, the Cabinet directed Maybank, which is the country’s largest financial group, to withdraw its requirement following criticism from various groups including the MCA, Bar Council and the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

The groups had said the guidelines were discriminatory and that selection of law firms should be on merit and not ethnic composition. 

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the Cabinet discussed the issue and considered the matter resolved. 

On Thursday, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn said the Maybank issue should be a lesson to all Malaysians as the country was a multiracial one where a small thing could become sensitive. 

Meanwhile, AmBank Group announced that all letters sent out to legal firms that stipulated the requirement of bumiputra equity participation had been withdrawn. 

“We would also like to apologise for any misunderstanding caused by the letters which were issued over the last few days,” it said. 

AmBank was also criticised for sending out letters to law firms requiring them to have a bumiputra partner. 

Yesterday, Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce youth chairman Saiful Adli Mohd Arshad said the chamber fully supported Maybank’s requirement because it would help increase bumiputra equity, especially among professionals. 

Catrade Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk IIyas Mohamed said the Cabinet directive appeared to be inconsistent with its own policy of assisting Malays in getting their share in the distribution of the nation’s wealth.  

The Star Online > Nation

Sunday May 13, 2007

Parents face harsher penalties

By YONG AI WEN

KUALA LUMPUR: Like kids who are afraid of being caned, parents who neglect their children will be disciplined with harsher punishment. 

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum proposed to increase punishment for parents under the Child Act, 2001. 

Currently, Section 33 of the Act carries a fine of up to RM5,000, a two-year jail sentence or both for anyone who fails to properly supervise their children. 

“We have numerous missing child cases. The public who sympathised with the parents failed to see the mistakes the parents made in the first place. 

“If the parents care about their kids, why do they fail to keep an eye on them? 

“Parents who have failed in their responsibilities must be brought before the law,” he said when launching Informasi Polis (Police Information), a new programme dedicated to raising public awareness on crime and educating viewers on how to prevent it. 

Since 2004, about 1,900 children have been reported missing but the numbers could be higher. 

“These are the numbers we gather from police reports. There may be some who do not report missing children to the police. 

“We hope to elaborate on the severity of the punishments according to the offences committed and include punishment for offences committed by the children like playing truant,” said Johari. 

The Mandarin programme, a joint effort by police and Astro, will be aired every Sunday at 5.30pm starting from today on Astro AEC (Channel 19).  

The Star Online > Nation

Sunday May 13, 2007

Why not marry single mums?

KUALA TERENGGANU: Polygamous men should consider marrying single mothers to reduce the high number of such women living alone, said State Islam Hadhari and Welfare committee chairman Abdullah Che Muda. 

“The popular consideration is to look for unmarried girls but this will not help to reduce the increasing number of single mothers,” he said. 

Abdullah said there were some 18,000 members in the Terengganu Single Mothers’ Club. 

“In my constituency (Kuala Besut) alone, there are now some 300 single mothers and those intending to remarry should consider these women,” he added. 

Abdullah said the men were subjected to certain rulings of the Religious Department, such as being mentally and financially stable, has in-depth knowledge of the religion and able to render fair treatment to all wives. 

“Therefore, those who are eligible can look after these single mothers, by accepting them as wives,” he said.  

State Religious Department commissioner Datuk Shaikh Harun Ismail said that in Terengganu, polygamous man could solemnise the marriage without informing his wife or wives.  

On the other hand, he said spouses’ presence was compulsory in the Federal Territory. 

“But this still come under the discretion of the Syariah Court judge and if the man is asked to produce his wife or wives he has to comply,” he said.  

The Star Online > Nation

Sunday May 13, 2007

Malay ‘Red Chamber’

Signed and sealed: Yayasan Karyawan chief executive Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad (left) shaking hands with Pejati secretary Lim Chean Keong after the signing, as Chan (second from left) and Yayasan Karyawan’s chief executive officer Tan Sri Kamarul Ariffin applaud.

Yayasan Karyawan, in collaboration with Universiti Malaya Chinese Studies Graduates’ Association (Pejati), is now editing 40 chapters of the 18th century novel that had been translated. The novel has 120 chapters. 

Pejati chairman Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the translators required not only good language skills but also knowledge of the story. 

He said the translation of chapters 41 to 80 of the novel would be completed in two years’ time and another two years was needed for the last 40 chapters of the book.  

The exercise, costing RM500,000, would be carried out by Yayasan Karyawan and Pejati. The two parties signed an agreement to that effect yesterday.