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TDM on English

Dr M: Forsaking English is the nation’s folly

Dr M: I am not an Englishman but I speak English.

By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Dec 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the government was exposing Malaysia to peril by reversing the policy of teaching maths and science in English.

“English is the language of the Knowledge Age. Countries which do not master English will not only be left behind but risk being colonised either directly or indirectly.”

Without knowledge, countries will be oppressed and even invaded, he said.

The former premier, who has not hidden his disapproval over the shift of policy which he introduced, added that it was a folly to equate patriotism to speaking the national language.

“English is not only for English people but a universal language. I am not an Englishman but I speak English.”

Nizar on Ketuanan Melayu

Nizar says Ketuanan Melayu is unIslamic

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Dec 14 — The recent spate of racial politicking allegedly instigated by non-Malay politicians in the Opposition, seems to have triggered an internal war among the Malay community, creating a widening rift between two factions — the pro-Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Malays and the pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) Malays.

The chasm was further proven today when, in a press conference at the Perak DAP headquarters this afternoon, ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (picture) came to the defence of his non-Malay comrades in the PR and condemned the concept of “Malay Supremacy”, adding that it was an “un-Islamic” ideology.

He also urged his fellow Malays to open their eyes and see the BN's or Umno's ploy in using the concept to create a wave of protest against the PR alliance.

“As far as we in PAS are concerned, the entire concept is utter rubbish. There is no such thing as Malay supremacy but what it really is is Umno supremacy,” he said.

He said that PAS, even as an Islamist party, had never been an advocate of such a concept and this stand had been undertaken by the party's spiritual adviser Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat many years ago.

Nizar added that “Malay Supremacy” was anti-Islam and that any Muslim who committed treachery against Islam would be punished in one way or another.

Najib on Mandarin

Najib: Learn Mandarin, China important

China’s President Hu Jintao (right) and Najib talk outside the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — Malaysians, especially the Malays, need to take up Mandarin as it has become an important language since China is now a world economic superpower, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib said learning another language would also enable a person to know better other individuals from different backgrounds, thus enabling them to respect each other more.

“Only when we respect and honour one another, we will become truly Malaysian,” he said at the Chong Hwa Independent High School’s 90th anniversary grand dinner here.

He said by learning Mandarin, the other races — especially the Malays — would be able to understand the Chinese better.

“It may be too late for me to learn Mandarin, but I hope to see more Malays learn the language in the future.

“My youngest son, Norashman Razak, who is currently studying at Georgetown University in the United States, is also taking Mandarin classes,” he said, adding that he was told his son would only be able to speak Mandarin fluently in four years’ time.

Anwar on BTN

Anwar defends his views in leaked BTN video

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stood by his views contained in a leaked video of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which was made available in Umno-owned blogs, saying its courses have gotten worse now.

A video dated in the early 1990s, shows Anwar (picture) defending Malays' special privileges and saying these rights should not be questioned by non-Malays.

“In the historical context during our agreement in 1957, we gave citizenship to the immigrants (pendatang). Since we have given them (immigrants) citizenship, the question of the Malay’s special privileges should not arise,” he said in a video-taped BTN session.

The opposition leader and former deputy prime minister says he has nothing to hide and blames BTN for leaking the videos.

“I don't have any problems with that because I know (of it).

“I would anticipate that BTN in its crooked ways will not dare release all the videos of all the speeches. So what they would do is selective and will quote out of context and release," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.