tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post7260777280137969566..comments2024-01-21T00:24:21.127-08:00Comments on Demi Negara: You really a MALAYSIAN ka?KijangMashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617194030300556118noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-11167305383268393592009-10-09T20:51:39.578-07:002009-10-09T20:51:39.578-07:00msleepyhead,
I'm sure the DN Community apprec...msleepyhead,<br /><br />I'm sure the DN Community appreciates your sense of togetherness as reflected in the above comment of yours, to the extent of making a suggestion on how best to go about with Kempen SSS.<br /><br />In this regard, though I'm not the blog owner and am a mere member of the DN Community so to speak, I feel that you also belong to this Community. However, the SSS slogan has been used for quite some time and has apparently become acceptable to many. <br /><br />Let's do what we can to promote SSS. Getting more people to sign the Petition is something we can do. Assuming that those not respecting the Constitution and demanding non-BM media of instruction are only limited in number, I think the "silent majority" exists in all communities. We need to persuade more of them.<br /><br />It has been a pleasure talking to you thru this medium, Demi Negara. Let me, by this comment of mine, give a vote of thanks to our host, the venerable KijangMas Perkasa, on behalf of both of us. <br /><br />We'll meet again in DN or elsewhere, I'm quite sure.<br /><br />Maju.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-39668455278149965262009-10-09T00:33:20.072-07:002009-10-09T00:33:20.072-07:00Thanks Maju for your heartfelt thoughts as always....Thanks Maju for your heartfelt thoughts as always. Everything is spot on. I too don't get the Chinese road signs or the changing of their names, like Jalan Alor previously. There has been too much tit for tat, for the show of power.<br /><br />On another note, I think we should capitalize on the '1' trend right now.<br /><br />How does '1Sekolah' sound?<br /><br />The timing is right to hitch on the '1' bandwagon.<br /><br />Rebrand the three 'SSS' to '1S'. Gotta strike while the iron is hot.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-31995386927317983662009-10-08T18:14:19.930-07:002009-10-08T18:14:19.930-07:00msleepyhead,
On “cultural impediments” –
The sl...msleepyhead,<br /><br />On “cultural impediments” – <br /><br />The slogan “unity in diversity” appears to me a contradiction in terms. Just as “doing things in parallel” will not get people together for the simple reason that parallel lines never meet. We need to go on convergent paths. Culture also being a set of values, attitude and mindset, we need to think in terms of finding common values, adjusting our attitude and thinking to lessen our differences for the sake of progress.<br /><br />Divergence, even contradiction, in social, religious and cultural values impede progress. Signboards in parts of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya have been changed more than twice in a short span of time due to exuberance in and opposition to the use of Chinese language; the bickering, the time, the money and the energy could have been used for other activities that can help the two municipalities progess. The relocating of pig farms, or of the Indian temple in Shah Alam, could have saved everybody involved a lot of time and energy which could have been used for finding the badly needed resources to develop the state of Selangor. <br /><br />Multi-cultural as we are, we need to find the means whereby people are always aware of and sensitive to the needs and the taboos of others so that the minimum is done that requires to be undone soon after in order to save our resources for development. The question is often asked: why need to understand the needs and the taboos of one community more than the others. The answer is that one community is the majority and has been here since this country was first inhabited. Non-acceptance of that fact is an attitude or a mindset that is an impediment to progress. The energy, resources and goodwill wasted over that issue could be used for development. Since that non-acceptance (despite knowing the facts of history) appears to have stemmed from set values, mind and thinking, it may be called “cultural impediments” to progress. <br /><br />Acceptance of the need for the Special Position of the Malays and the NEP, and the taboo against questioning that Special position allows for unimpeded progress. May 13, 1969 is evidence of the loss of life, property, time and effort, and more importantly, investment and business climate, which could have contributed to progress. Acceptance of the fact that this country has been called Malaya and Malaysia i.e after the Malays (including the Orang Aslis who are “Proto-Malays”) as the original inhabitants, that the Malays are the “Tuan Rumah” (or even the “Tuan Tanah”) who agreed that the non-Malays stay here (Menteri Larut Ngah Ibrahim even invited some) and be given citizenship, would help bring about peace and stability, a prerequisite for investment, development and pogress.<br /><br />Likewise, acceptance by the Tuan Rumah of the fact that the non-Malays have contributed to the progress of the nation and that their forefathers have agreed that the non-Malays be given citizenship and become a member of the family, that citizenship which cannot be questioned, would help make everybody feel at ease living in this country. As happens everywhere in the world, new members would of course follow the ways of the family that have been established by the old members. Especially when those ways, like Bahasa Melayu, have been incorporated in the Constitution.<br /><br />The SSS is an attempt at building a convergent path, at getting Malaysians think, behave and develop common values – on the National Language, on being together, understanding one another, caring for the country, respecting and living by the Constitution. We have seen so many instances of childen laughing and playing together, oblivious to their ethnic background, feeling that the other is just a friend, a pal, a buddy, growing to become mutually respecting fellow Malaysians. I dream of the day when the vast majority in every community in the country to day think, behave and feel that way. It will take time to get there but let’s begin now.<br /><br />Maju.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-60647115400814721252009-10-08T00:59:02.919-07:002009-10-08T00:59:02.919-07:00@KM
My Sambal Trassi addicted Tionghua Indonesian ...@KM<br /><i>My Sambal Trassi addicted Tionghua Indonesian buddies in LA -- Budi, Anton and Susi</i><br /><br />and one would have thought that they are Nusantara Malays from their names (not to be confused with Arabic ones). ;)msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-4452559507434994662009-10-08T00:14:02.821-07:002009-10-08T00:14:02.821-07:00I like to share the comment I submitted at Satu Se...I like to share the comment I submitted at Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua website, as below. I think it is important for Malaysians to take a serious look at our current race relation.<br /><br />I like to extract a paragraph on the Star News report today titled “Don’t take Bendera’s threat to attack lightly:-<br /><br />(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/7/focus/4853807&sec=focus)<br /><br />“<i>They may create a civil war by attacking one particular race and hoping the attacked race would retaliate thinking these attackers are locals. <b>They probably know how fragile our race relationship is</b></i>.”<br /><br />Our race relationship is that FRAGILE !!! At least that’s how a neighbour sees it!<br /><br />And here some of us and government still do not see how IMPORTANT to have a single National school system, no more racial based SRJKs, for the sake of the country.<br /><br />Very very strange indeed!!!Kennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17071218876426067973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-25143207192653195152009-10-06T12:20:14.043-07:002009-10-06T12:20:14.043-07:00msleepyhead said:-
"Vernacular schools are al...<b>msleepyhead</b> said:-<br />"Vernacular schools are already here, call them <i>cancer</i> if you will, but like its given namesake have taken root and have spread all over the nation."<br /><br />Excellent point msleepyhead.<br /><br />Now people, how do one <i>treat</i> cancer? <br /><br />Dinner in PJ kopitiam with KM (and maybe Robin) for the correct answer.<br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>NJ</b> said:-<br />"... menggunakan bahasa cina dan bahasa tamil dan lain-lain bahasa asing sebagai media penghantar (samada dalam pembelajaran, komunikasi rasmi seperti papan tanda, blog 1Malaysia, .. dsb) adalah bertentangan dengan Akta Bahasa Kebangsaan dan Penggunaan Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan sepertimana yang diperuntukkan oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan ... Harap ada dikalangan pembaca dari bidang undang-undang ... dapat menjelaskan perkara ini serta memperbetulkan tulisan ini sekiranya didapati tidak betul."<br /><br />Salam Sdr NJ. Kefahaman sdr tentang perkara ini tidak perlu di perbetulkan. Ianya memang tepat, dan Akta Bahasa Kebangsaan sudah cukup jelas tentang perkasaan dan keunggulan Bahasa Melayu dalam segala urusan rasmi negara.<br /><br />Yang telah memperlekehkan hukum ini hingga menjerumus Bahasa Kebangsaan kita ke ambang kepupusan adalah spesis primat yang berjenama <i>Homo malayopolitikus stupidii</i> yang kini telah membiak ke setiap pelusuk pola politik negara ini. Berbagai konsesi di berikan oleh sang-sang primat ini untuk memuaskan kehendak tamak haloba tak terbendung spesis makhluk perosak <i>Homo pendatanginitis</i>. <br /><br />Ini termasuklah impian kayangan <b>1 Malaysia</b> yang memanda PM kita kini mau menyemarakkan menjadi <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/6/nation/20091006185452&sec=nation" rel="nofollow"><b>1 Region</b> dan <b>1 World</b></a>. <br /><br />Lepastu apa? <b>1 Galaxy</b>? <br /><br />Memanda PM kita harus membuktikan keberkesanan impian nya di tahap <b>1 Neighbourhood</b> dahulu sebelum tergamak untuk men<i>Satu</i>kan seluruh dunia.<br /><br />Saya tidak faham bagaimana pemimpin sebuah negara yang kian hari semakin renggang dan bergolak tentang perkara se asas-asasnya seperti <i>Bahasa</i> dan <i>Identiti Nasional</i> boleh berhujah tanpa segan silu di pentas dunia sebagai pencetus suatu <i>formula</i> keramat yang akan <i>menyatukan</i> kesemua enam billion hamba Allah di bumi ini di bawah panji <b>1 World</b>.<br /><br />Aneh dan menakjubkan ...<br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Retrogina</b> said:-<br />"I read this posting of yours with a serious tone (while having a cuppa)and when it came to the part when you said "give yourself a good tight slap..." I spewed my tea. Cheh! Habih basah keyboard ... I had a good laugh."<br /><br />Hahaha ... be more careful next time you read a DN post. You'll never know when the wry humour kicks in ...<br /><br />Luckily it was only tea and not one of those thick gooey decadent waist-busting <a href="http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4703806/chocolate-milkshake-main_Full.jpg" rel="nofollow">concoctions</a>. <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Semerah Padi</b> said:-<br />"Dalam Perlembagaan hanya disebut 5 kaum sahaja:-<br /> (i) Orang Asli<br /> (ii) Melayu<br /> (iii) Bumiputera Sarawak<br /> (iv) Bumiputera Sabah<br /> (v) Lain-lain kaum<br /><br />Sepatutnya segala borang-borang rasmi hanya berpandukan kepada 5 kaum yang ternyata di atas."<br /><br />Setuju.<br /><br />Dan lima "muka" yang harus di tonjolkan dalam segala promosi <b>1 Malaysia</b> dan <b>Malaysia Truly Asia</b> adalah:-<br /> (i) Orang Asli<br /> (ii) Melayu<br /> (iii) Bumiputera Sarawak<br /> (iv) Bumiputera Sabah<br /> (v) Lain-lain kaum (pilih SATU muka sahaja dari kalangan kaum-kaum lain yang tidak ternama dalam Perlembagaan). <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Omong</b> said:-<br />"The chinese Indonesians speak their national language perfectly, even when they are overseas."<br /><br />Absolutely!<br /><br />My <i>Sambal Trassi</i> addicted Tionghua Indonesian buddies in LA -- Budi, Anton and Susi -- certainly attest to that. And beyond mere language, these assimilated people are also renown for their elaborate <a href="http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~penerbit/sari21-10.pdf" rel="nofollow"><i>syair</i></a> in Peranakan Malay.<br /><br />But in Malaysia? Haiyaah, Ayoyooo .....KijangMashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617194030300556118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-20634137092415086992009-10-06T09:11:31.883-07:002009-10-06T09:11:31.883-07:00Tommy Yewfigure said:-
"Hey Bosz, where r u?&...<b>Tommy Yewfigure</b> said:-<br />"Hey Bosz, where r u?"<br /><br />Unker Yew, I've been pretty much preoccupied with issues and stuff on the other side of the Pacific puddle. Anyway, back in our blessed Tanah Air now. Recently had a kopitiam makan and chat with my buddy, the slightly off-tangent Robin, in PJ while on a stopover from LA to KB. Surreal stuff. <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Omong</b> said:-<br />"Those criteria and more, should be made compulsory in the citizenship test."<br /><br />Yes Omong, those are the <i>bare</i> minimum. In addition, "refresher" bootcamps spiced with KM's own TLC treatment in my Kelantan dusun hideway would do a lot of good to the hardcore <i>totoks</i> of the Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kock variety.<br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Naif</b> said:-<br />"May I know who created the SSS website? Whoever it is, I'd like to thank him for including me as one of the "E-Patriots". An honour indeed."<br /><br />Salam Naif. The SSS website was created by a group of concerned patriots. Who these heroes are is not as important as their message to our fellow countrymen.<br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Dal</b> said:-<br />"On the first opportunity, visited the SSS new site, left a simple comment, only then come visiting here. Sorry Tuan KijangMas, I normally drop in here first before anywhere else."<br /><br />Salam Pakcik Dal. Your enthusiasm for SSS is understandable. I do the same thing myself. <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>SSS Admin</b> said:-<br />"Kami ingin merakamkan rasa setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kami terhadap Tuan sempena kelahiran Portal Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua di wordpress. Di laman citra Demi Negara inilah, SSS di ilhamkan, dicetuskan serta dikandung sehingga SSS dilahirkan di wordpress pada hari Merdeka."<br /><br />Terima kasih saudara/i.<br /><br />Sebenarnya, SSS jadi kenyataan atas daya usaha ramai rakan-rakan patriot seperjuangan seperti saudara/i. Saya hanya menyediakan suatu wadah maya untuk membolehkan para warga DN berinteraksi. <br /><br />Perjuangan kita baru bermula. Sokongan padu majoriti insan yang menggelar diri mereka "Warganegara Malaysia" adalah matlamat SSS. Tiada jalan lain bagi negara ini. <i>Satu Sekolah</i> adalah unsur yang paling ASAS dalam pembinaan suatu Bangsa Malaysia yang teguh bersatupadu.<br /> <br />--------<br /><br /><b>Kembara Politik</b> said:-<br />"Begitu bersemangat apabila membaca post yang pendek tapi padat ini."<br /><br />Salam Sdr Kembara. Ya, ada kalanya sesuatu pendirian tidak perlu di huraikan dengan panjang lebar. <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><b>Tamim Dari</b> said:-<br />"Is a blessing from God that your community, the DN Community have successfully given birth to another star of a website no less promising than yours. I most proudly congratulate you."<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. The anonymous webmasters of SSS deserve all the credit.KijangMashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617194030300556118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-609791904769260022009-10-06T01:54:53.402-07:002009-10-06T01:54:53.402-07:00Thank you Unker Yew for the nods. Just trying to d...Thank you Unker Yew for the nods. Just trying to dig further and understand the cultural differences that is causing so much friction today.<br /><br />This may explain why the kedai runcits do well.<br />http://tinyurl.com/y8ltro2<br /><br /><i>If you are a Malaysian in Malaysia, or a Kenyan in Kenya, or an African-American in Watts, and you want to run a grocery store, you start with a handicap: you have friends and relatives who want jobs, or discounts. You can’t deny credit or collect a debt from your neighbor, because he’s your neighbor, and your social and business lives are tied up together.</i><br /><br />Don't know how much of it is true but another food for thought, why are the Nasi Kandar operators employing foreign labour, apart from their low salary, is it also possible that they work the longest hours and since they are temporarily here, work for as much money as possible? Compare that to local workers with friends, family, and the environment that 'distracts' them from working long hours.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-64736116490791675002009-10-04T18:14:42.663-07:002009-10-04T18:14:42.663-07:00Tongkang has got a point there. We should work tog...Tongkang has got a point there. We should work together and not against each other. The discussions must contribute to the betterment of the SSS.<br /><br />@satD, luculah bro, perli lah tu.<br />tapi kitaorang pun tinggai dekat skolah juga - datuk onn kat teloq ayer tawar.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-78597642424169138912009-10-03T22:41:47.414-07:002009-10-03T22:41:47.414-07:007th August Morakot –Taiwan
2nd Sept - earthquak...7th August Morakot –Taiwan<br /><br />2nd Sept - earthquake Tasikmalaya district,<br /><br />26th Sept Ondoy– Philipines<br /><br />28th Sept - Samoa Island Region<br /><br />29th Sep - Typhoon Ketsana (Philippines and Viet Nam before hitting Cambodia)<br /><br />30th Sept - Two major earthquakes Padang, West Sumatra, <br /><br />3rd Oct Pharma – Philipines<br /><br />3rd Oct - Moderate quake off Fiji<br /><br />4th Oct - floods in India <br /><br />Malaysia is such a blessed country not having to have to face all the above disasters suffered by our neighboring countries. <br /><br />And as Bumiputras, we have bestowed with such peace and tranquility for centuries..<br /> <br />However, here we are (who are you people????) shaking and drowning ourselves with nonstop ramblings, hitting one another with so much disrespect, air liur mencurah2 bagaikan tsunami! <br /><br />WHY?<br /><br />TongkangAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-55110936593653057452009-10-03T00:38:18.430-07:002009-10-03T00:38:18.430-07:00Unker u didn't know ka the location ...next ti...Unker u didn't know ka the location ...next time watch the credits after movie end...all shot exclusively belakang rumah gue dongsatDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03495554463280249599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-19014233689772621732009-10-02T20:43:11.731-07:002009-10-02T20:43:11.731-07:00But, but satD, I thot u come from the Planet of th...But, but satD, I thot u come from the Planet of the Apes?<br /><br />Unker Tommy<br /><br />P/S - Good input from all round, well done. Msleepyhead, I like ur style. Hey Bosz, where r u?Tommy Yewfigurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417405409281770347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-27792520811075065912009-10-01T21:32:58.315-07:002009-10-01T21:32:58.315-07:00ms sleepyhead
FYI
I come from Jalan Merbau belak...ms sleepyhead<br /><br />FYI<br /><br />I come from Jalan Merbau belake sekoloh Maahad Muhammadi<br /><br />:)satDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03495554463280249599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-27002794273501627282009-10-01T19:31:01.826-07:002009-10-01T19:31:01.826-07:00@satD, nice to hear from you again and by 'giv...@satD, nice to hear from you again and by 'giving up' their cultural identity, I meant being perceived, outwardly at least, like the Chinese to be materialistic, money chasing people (that's definitely not PC). To put it simply, they are economic minded. On why they are still being stubborn and selfish when it comes to language for unity, I've no answer to that. That's the sole reason I'm bringing up the discussion here, not defending them.<br /><br />@Maju, thanks as usual for taking the time to write up detailed thoughts. Culture in our discussions meant the most general of sense and practices of the people. You are absolutely right that there is no superior culture, academically or otherwise, but perceptions and a quick look around tells otherwise. How else can we explain the affirmative action policies (not to be confused with Special Rights) to 'uplift' the Malays in the country. You said so yourself, we should not begrudge them for trying to catch up. It is something about the spirit of th people if it's not culture.<br /><br />More digging revealed this:<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/yambylu<br /><br /><i>Is it right that hundreds, nay thousands of men should grow up not knowing how to read or write or do simple sums? It makes them look ridiculous in the eyes of other races who cheat them over measurements and weights and computations, and in general wherever writing is involved.</i><br /><br />And it may just explain why MLNI asked the Chinese and offered them the opportunity to open up the mines over his own people. Is it possible they simply had the prerequisite to run it and get the job done? It's outcome, kongsi gelap and all is another thing altogether.<br /><br />Of course we've come a long way since then, and if people like you, satD, KM and the DN community, forms the majority of the country, then it's in good hands.<br /><br />Before being accused of being a racist or having no right to speak about the Malay culture unless I'm one, I'm just here to understand where all of us come from.<br /><br />Hava good weekend ya'll.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-81159879005475586842009-10-01T15:48:35.630-07:002009-10-01T15:48:35.630-07:00Correction:
"Mandarin had united the Chinese...Correction:<br /><br />"Mandarin had united the Chinese in China into one nation. Why can’t the Chinese in Malaysia accept it as a tool to unite people in this country?" -<br /><br />pls substitute "BM" for "it".<br /><br />Maju.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-84201160089488184032009-10-01T09:55:57.277-07:002009-10-01T09:55:57.277-07:00Yo Miss Sleepyhead
Your said
"Now that the M...Yo Miss Sleepyhead<br /><br />Your said<br />"Now that the Malays too want material wealth, are they willing to forgo their cultural identity in this chase?"<br /><br />Why must one forgo Cultural Identity? Did any of the Native North Asians forgo their Cultural Identities in pursuit of material wealth?<br /><br />Look around us regionally and globally every single immigrant race that set foot in another country to search for material wealth put serious effort to be more local instead of jumping up and down like monkeys on LSD harping on segregation from every aspect of life...and mind you this is after they have conquered the country economically....<br /><br />Ape lu cita ni?<br /><br />Start with National Language first la....and just don't say it...use it..<br /><br />Sdr Anti-Jingoism <br /><br />Sekiranya Sdr benar2 setuju dengan Kemmpen SSS sy berharap agar Sdr menandatangani petisyen kami...dan sy juga berharap agar Sdr sempat meluangkan waktu untuk menulusuri portal SSS di satusekolahuntuksemua.wordpress.com untuk memahami dengan lebih mendalam. Yg harus di sadari adalah Objectif awal Kempen SSS iaitu untuk melakukan pengkajian secara menyeluruh terhadap sistem pembelajaran di Malaysia, ayuh kita semua memfokuskan tenaga kita untuk menyebarkan maklumat tg Kempen SSS seluas mungkin.satDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03495554463280249599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-91483806134120024922009-10-01T09:09:02.520-07:002009-10-01T09:09:02.520-07:00Part 2.
Mssleepyhead,
Mandarin is not the mother...Part 2.<br /><br />Mssleepyhead,<br /><br />Mandarin is not the mother tongue of the Mainland Chinese. It is not the mother tongue of the Chinese in Malaysia. They speak various dialects all over the vast country in the Mainland and in this country. They don’t speak it at home, they don’t use it as a “way of life”. So, can it be called culture? Language is an aspect of culture if it is used “habitually” throughout the course of daily life. <br /><br />They use Mandarin only on official business. The Manchu court officials and nobility may have spoken Mandarin both officially and at home but they formed a negligible percentage of the Chinese population and are hardly around any more. When the Chinese Revolution occurred and the communists came into power early last century, even the ruling elite didn’t use Mandarin at home – they were mainly of the peasant class and, in non-official life, spoke the language of the peasants, not Mandarin.<br /><br />Mandarin had united the Chinese in China into one nation. Why can’t the Chinese in Malaysia accept it as a tool to unite people in this country? After all, BM is the Official and the National Language of this country. After 52 years still not conversant with the language? Isn’t it a matter of attitude, values, mindset, reasonableness? Why can’t they accept the SSS Proposal as a means to unite Malaysians? <br /><br />No doubt our past leaders had unwittingly allowed the vernacular schools such that it has become a big problem to national unity now. But BM is clearly stated in the Constitution. Nobody is denying the right to learn Mandarin. But wanting Mandarin to continue as the medium of instruction in schools – is that not unreasonableness? <br /><br />Let’s not use the words “cultural impediment” for the time being because even whether Mandarin can be called Chinese culture or not appears a moot point as stated above.<br /><br />More to come, another time.<br /><br />Maju.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-23554098614593303202009-10-01T08:58:09.767-07:002009-10-01T08:58:09.767-07:00msleepyhead,
About culture, "superior cultur...msleepyhead,<br /><br />About culture, "superior culture", "cultural impediments" -<br /><br />First, a definition of culture. There are over 100 definitions provided by anthropologists, sociologists, historians etc. But the universally accepted definition is:<br /> <br />"the sum total of the experiences of a community".<br /><br />Culture is not only literary works, music, art, architecture etc. Culture is the creativity, the thinking, the mindset, the values of right and wrong and reasonableness, the attitude of groups of people. It is the way of life of the people. Hence there are such things as aboriginal culture; in the absence of literary works, for example, folklore takes its place. It is the totality of the experiences of the community, throughout its entire history, the good and the bad. Hence business and corruption are also aspects of culture.<br /><br />There is no such thing as "superior culture", only varying cultural forms and levels of finesse or refinement. For example, the sculptural works of one community may be refined whereas those of another may not. <br /><br />Also, appreciation of art etc is often subjective; it is “in the eyes of the beholder”. Similarly, the thinking, mindset and attitude of a people, the discernible characteristics of one group, including Hitler and the Nazis, cannot be “superior” to another. <br /><br />The Ketuanan Melayu is not about "superior culture". It is about history. It is about recognising that the Malays have been in this country since time immemorial. Note that the Orang Aslis are also of the Malay stock - historians, anthropologists and sociologists call the Orang Aslis “Proto-Malays” and call the later Malays “Deutro-Malays”. <br /><br />And the term "Rumpun Melayu" refers to all the Malays from Patani in southern Thailand to those people in southern Philippines (even the Christian Filipinos call their independence fighter, Jose Rizal, "a Malay hero"), Sumatera, Java and the huge island almost at the tip of Australia, about half of which is called Papua New Guinea. The date of arrival of the earlier Malays has not been determined, even estimated. The later Malays were here at least about 2,000 years ago; Greek, Indian and Arabic records mention it. As I'm not writing a Ph.D thesis, I don't have to quote authorities etc except perhaps 1-2. <br /><br />Culture definitely also includes history. The length of history of a people does not necessarily indicate superiority or level of civilisation. The Egyptians now have only ancient monuments and relics of antiquity to be proud of. The West ceased to call China a "pariah" state only about a decade or so ago. The Indians have been fighting with one another politically so much that they almost let an Italian (married to a past PM) run them as PM - even the Americans have a law stipulating their President to be American-born.<br /><br />China with 3,500 years of history (longer if based on archeology) does not have a "superior" or "great" culture, though some aspects of Chinese cultural forms reached a high level of refinement. Professor C.P Fitzgerald would have told you that; he died in the 1990s, but his book, "China: A Short Cultural History" remains. "Short" but 600 over pages, yet nowhere in it is mentioned such things as the "superiority" of Chinese culture or Chinese race. That should debunk the myth held by SJKC "graduates" writing here and there about a "superior culture dominating the weaker ones", adamantly clinging to Mandarin and refusing to accept Bahasa Malaysia. If they have a good knowledge of Chinese history, and of Malaysian history, they ought to fully accept Bahasa Malaysia rather than glamourise Mandarin. <br /><br />Maju.<br /><br />(Continued in Part 2)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-17138440907386103322009-10-01T05:04:13.926-07:002009-10-01T05:04:13.926-07:00Part 2
John Cena on people being discontent, did ...Part 2<br /><br />John Cena on people being discontent, did this discontent simply happen since last year or was it always under the surface? What is the root cause of this discontent and will it fade away depending on the outcome of the next GE? Would it not have happened if the last GE were not so surprising? Discontent with what exactly? <br /><br />"A good drop kick to the breadbasket and a double-whammy body-slam should awaken this epitome of bodoh sombong obnoxism from his/her subversive comfort zone to the abject reality of his/her wretched existence as a stateless dwindling minority in a land increasingly shaken by the reverberations of discontent from the hordes of restless natives."<br /><br />The above is exactly an example of how anyone disagreeing with this posting is being painted by some commentators as something else, as if everything is a binary choice and you HAVE to be this if you disagree. Also a lot of empty words.<br /><br />Anti-JingoismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-58094302442114787292009-10-01T05:03:48.584-07:002009-10-01T05:03:48.584-07:00Part 1
Hello mr.sleepyhead, I too support the SSS...Part 1<br /><br />Hello mr.sleepyhead, I too support the SSS. The idea of separate schooling systems simply makes no sense. If this posting is as you describe then my earlier comments are misplaced. I just don't think that there should be narrow definitions but maybe I have not understood the spirit of the posting and looked simply at its details. I would not be writing this if I did not believe in my country.<br /><br />Hello Aku, when I wrote "contributions" I did not have the idea of monetary contributions to the country's coffers running in my head. More of contributions to the country/society as a whole by service and action. I don't claim to be extraordinary or ordinary. I am just myself but I honestly was not thinking of monetary contributions so expected others to have the same line of thought. You thought of monetary contributions and hence thought others had the same line of thought, so we both thought others would be thinking like us. The idea of monetary contributions/taxes is a very western one. In Malaysia where a lot of people do not pay income tax, where there is a very narrow base of income tax payers who even then do not pay western european levels of tax (including hidden taxes) and where corporate tax and dividends from Petronas play bigger role in funding the operations and plans to the govt, the idea of contributions via tax is not suitable and hence never in my thoughts.<br /><br />I did not accuse anyone of anything? I was simply visceral against this idea. It was a quick antagonistic comment against the idea, not the person. It this difficult to understand? <br /><br />One should not have an arbitrary definition of being a Malaysian and certainly nowhere in the constitution, Rukun Negara and in Negara Ku, does it say knowing the above is a prequisite. However as mr.sleepyhead mentioned if someone has gone through the school system in the 70s to present and does not know it then there is a failure somewhere in the system. But to arbitarily decide who is or not a Malaysian, well I don't agree with that.<br /><br />On lining people and concentration camps, that was alluding to what happened in WWII in Europe where the Nazi's and those allied to them decided what was German/Aryan and what was not and those who were disabled, gypsies, non-caucasians, homosexuals, ant-nazis and of course jews were considered not german/European/Aryan enough and were killed, no matter how german/Hungarian/polish etc each one of them felt. And of course the mass killings and deportations in the Soviet Union as well. I was alluding that there should not be anyone creating these kind of criteria on who is or is not a Malaysian and brought this up to show where this had gone when it was taken to the extreme.<br /><br />I don't accuse anyone of being narrow but the idea of being narrow. <br /><br />"It's a matter of respecting and living by the Constitution, the Rukun Negara and all that come out from those, including standing up when the National Anthem is played and singing Negara Ku when expected to do so." Ok, but this is different from the posting. Maybe as I mentioned above I have looked at the details and missed the spirit of the posting.<br /><br />"Especially when they are non-mainstream. Anything not in line with the Constitution and the Rukun Negara is non-mainstream."<br /><br />Hai, first not ordinary and now non-mainstream. <br />Is knowing the Rukun Negara and our national anthem explicitly stated as a prequisite to being a Malaysian? Since it is not written anywhere including in the constitution, then the idea in this posting becomes non-mainstream then does it not? Then those who agree with it are non-mainstream? <br />See where I am going of the idea of arbitary requirements? who decides? <br /><br />And just to broaden the idea the constitution as we know it is a construct, not a religious text and in our 52 years of existence as Malaya and our 46 as Malaysia it has been changed many times including to include Sabah and Sarawak and the errant Singapore.<br /><br />Anti-JingoismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-29469355911910116072009-10-01T03:21:03.112-07:002009-10-01T03:21:03.112-07:00While researching on Parameswara and Malacca on my...While researching on Parameswara and Malacca on my favourite haunt Wiki (sorry Maju), it led to this:<br /><br />1. http://tinyurl.com/ycwbeyp<br /><br />and somehow this popped up,<br /><br />2. http://tinyurl.com/y8euacl<br /><br />Guess while we're grappling and talking about unity issues, they have certainly forged ahead, befitting their 'advanced/developed' status.<br /><br />Action does speak louder than words.<br /><br />Sigh, how about scrapping everything and start afresh, stop the infighting and really work towards something.<br /><br />Somehow the back and forths with Maju now feels trivial, no disrespect, but what's past is past and we can't keep going on harping on the same old issues. The truth is, and LKY has said this years ago (and I'm not even a fan of Singapura), the development of this country ultimately depends solely on the Malays, it's in the constitution, it's in the government, it's on the streets, it's in a fishing village, it's in a bistro in Bangsar, the others are mere supporting actors waiting for the main one to realize how well the show performs, depends squarely on him.<br /><br />Double sigh, I'm just going to go read 1. and nurse my sorrows for a while.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-63985743325624122072009-09-30T23:23:33.167-07:002009-09-30T23:23:33.167-07:00@Maju,
Agreed that it takes more than one generat...@Maju,<br /><br />Agreed that it takes more than one generation to succeed and accumulate wealth. It begins with the sacrifice of the first generation to provide for their progeny to push it through, either through education or otherwise, and by the third generation, the stability that the second generation provided would have allowed them to spread their wings and soar higher. Sometimes the first generation will gain through ill-gotten wealth to provide for the next one. That's how far some of the people are willing to go.<br /><br />What's interesting though is now we are seeing a new wave of immigrants, at least for ten years now we have had a generation of Indonesians and Bangladeshis, followed later by the Vietnamese, Nepalis and others, will they also overwhelm the locals when it comes to 'success' at least in the material sense?<br /><br />Also, would you by any chance know more about the Malaccan generation (1400s)? What happened to them, it was reported in textbook to be the golden age, perhaps much more than we have accomplished now in relative terms. Where there was international trade (perdagangan entrepot crops to mind) and said to be the center of Islamic learning in the region? I'm asking in earnestness because you mentioned of the thousand year old tradition of doing business, but the immigrants who came to these shores are coolies and labourers probably without education. So they would have started from zero too.<br /><br />I believe it is merely the clash of cultures, the Malays came from a non-materialistic, spiritual rooted one and the Chinese are all out make it or break it success measured by materialism one. Now that the Malays too want material wealth, are they willing to forgo their cultural identity in this chase?msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-6112505387842086162009-09-30T22:53:50.020-07:002009-09-30T22:53:50.020-07:00Rightly put by msleepyhead:-
The core issue is no...Rightly put by msleepyhead:-<br /><br /><i>The core issue is not so much being able to sing or recite those important things, but the issue of a <b>sense of belonging</b> to the country.</i><br /><br />And here comes an alien who wears a t-shirt which says "Shoot Me" with a smaller print "I am an alien, not one of you, earthlings!"<br /><br />This alien with such t-shirt sure will raise the earthlings eyebrows. What more, this alien behave such that no earthling would waste anytime but to aim and throw dart at him.<br /><br />When shot at, this alien cries foul blaming and accusing everybody. Why insult "the messenger?", this alien FARTED!<br /><br />Sound familiar? crappy jingo lingo bingo?antumonggonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-58302119143687162112009-09-30T20:52:27.978-07:002009-09-30T20:52:27.978-07:00People,
This anti-jizz jingophobe, with his/her l...People,<br /><br />This anti-jizz jingophobe, with his/her logic gymnastics and <i>putar belit</i> doubletalk, is just a waste of time.<br /><br />The nature of this beast makes him/her incapable of appreciating meticulous rationalizations by well-intentioned DN denizens.<br /><br />A good drop kick to the breadbasket and a double-whammy body-slam should awaken this epitome of <i>bodoh sombong</i> obnoxism from his/her subversive comfort zone to the abject reality of his/her wretched existence as a stateless dwindling minority in a land increasingly shaken by the reverberations of discontent from the hordes of restless natives.John Cenahttp://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n69/Marta_021/john-cena-.jpgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647368902980524.post-74667202643298019492009-09-30T19:55:01.463-07:002009-09-30T19:55:01.463-07:00Reporting:
http://tinyurl.com/y9pb3sj
So which b...Reporting: <br />http://tinyurl.com/y9pb3sj<br /><br />So which box does the author of the letter tick in government forms, Bumiputera or Lain-lain?<br /><br />@anti-jingo, just ignore those that can't discuss in a proper way, in the wise words of Maju, "May I respectfully suggest that we don't get distracted by those who choose to say things in their own style."<br /><br />If you had followed this blog and KM's comments you would've understood his style of writing. This posting is no different. It is just pointing out that after years of schooling, especially from the 70s generation onwards, there is no reason not to know the national anthem by heart, Rukunegara, well at least we should all know the five principles since it's at the back of every school exercise book.<br /><br />The core issue is not so much being able to sing or recite those important things, but the issue of a sense of belonging to the country.<br /><br />The SSS is a start to that.msleepyheadnoreply@blogger.com