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Tag: Bulan Bahasa

  • Telling Stories To Spread The Love Of Malay During Malay Language Month (Bulan Bahasa)

    Telling Stories To Spread The Love Of Malay During Malay Language Month (Bulan Bahasa)

    Author and storyteller Jumaini Ariff’s fondest memories of the Malay language come from her childhood, when she listened to the radio at home.

    “I would sit at the counter while my mother was cooking, and other than speaking to her or annoying her, I would learn things like pantun (rhymes)… how they speak, how they addressed the elderly and… storytelling,” said the 38-year-old.

    With eight Malay-language books published, she sees herself as an educator for her tongue, which is why she jumped at the chance to be one of this year’s three duta bahasa (language ambassadors) for Bulan Bahasa, or the Malay Language Month.

    She has already participated in Bulan Bahasa multiple times.

    During its launch on Sept 9 at the Malay Heritage Centre in Kampong Glam, she will tell stories with live gamelan music accompanying her.

    There will be a series of programmes on 2017’s themes of ilmu (knowledge), budaya (culture) and mesra (relationships), spread out between Aug 15 and Oct 15, and in a mixture of Malay and English for members of the public to enjoy.

    The location of the launch, as well as the focus on culture as one of this year’s themes, means that most of the programmes will be in Malay.

    The festival was launched in 1988 by the Malay Language Council to encourage the use of Malay in the everyday lives of Singapore’s Malay community.

    Said chairman of the Bulan Bahasa 2017 committee, Ms Rahayu Mahzam: “Our legacy, stories and values can survive the test of time only if we make the effort to preserve our appreciation of the Malay language.

    “Our mastery of the language can only enrich our understanding of our Malay identity. It is important to perpetuate this in the younger generation so we can continue to flourish as one community.”

    Ms Rahayu told The Straits Times that the challenge lies in getting people to use Malay in their daily lives and to learn to appreciate the importance of preserving the Malay culture through the language.

    “The celebration of the Malay culture is out there – everybody loves Malay culture and it’s easy to have activities revolving around it, but the appreciation of how language ties in with that is not as strong,” she said, citing the example of silat, the Malay martial art form, and how people may not appreciate the strong links between the cultural value of the weapons and moves and the Malay words for them.

    In light of recent language gaffes, such as the use of a wrong character in the Speak Mandarin Campaign launch and wrongly typed Tamil in some National Day Parade pamphlets, she said that the Malay Language Council has a large network of people which it taps to ensure the correct translation and dissemination of Malay-language material.

    Ms Rahayu, who is a member of the council, said the network is composed of people such as literary experts, teachers and previous Bulan Bahasa language ambassadors.

     

    Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

  • Ismail L.A. : Polemik, Jenaka Dan Mati Pucok Presiden Pilihan

    Ismail L.A. : Polemik, Jenaka Dan Mati Pucok Presiden Pilihan

    ?? ALMARHUM YUSOFF ISHAK & SINGAPURA

    Semasa saya kecil saya selalu terdengar dan suka memerhatikan perbualan orang2 tua dengan arwah bapa saya berborak2 perihal politik Singapura dan selalu nama Presiden Singapura yang pertama iaitu Almarhum Yusoff Bin Ishak disebut.

    Waktu itu saya kurang mengerti soal politik semasa tetapi saya selalu dengar mereka menyebut Almarhum sebagai patung bernyawa, Presiden tidak guna, batang pisang dan lain2 lagi yang kurang enak, tidak pernah ada pujian dari lidah mereka.

    Sekarang baharu saya faham dan mengerti situasi pada masa itu dan apa yang selalu Pemerintah war-warkan sikap Almarhum sebagai Presiden yang berjiwa raayat sebenarnya banyak juga raayat yang tidak menyukai, mempersenda diri dan jawatan nya.

    Suatu tugas yang besar yang tidak mungkin dapat menyenangkan hati kepada semua lapisan masyarakat Singapura pada waktu itu.

    Jika polemik pemilihan Presiden untuk dibahaskan tahun ini supaya orang Melayu kita dapat sekali lagi menjawat jawatan itu dengan ehsan Pemerintah maka saya ingat kerendahan Presiden dimata masyarakat akan lebih lagi, bukan sahaja dikalangan Melayu sendiri malahan daripada masyarakat yang lain2 juga.

    Ini kerana hampir semua orang Melayu sedar yang Pemerintah hanya menpergunakan diri mereka dengan permainan politik kerana takut menerima kenyataan dimana Presiden pemilihan Pemerintah dalam pilihanraya Presiden kali ini akan kalah.

    Jika Pemerintah benar2 ikhlas mahukan bangsa minoriti Melayu memegang jawatan yang tertinggi itu kenapa Pemerintah menukar skim pemilihan langsung oleh konsensus Parlimen kepada pengundian raayat dimana umum semua tahu yang masyarakat kita belum lagi setara dengan kebolehan masyarakat bangsa2 lain.

    Hairan Pemerintah hanya mulai sedar bila mereka tersepit dan kini segala alasan tidak akan dapat memenangi lagi hati nurani masyarakat Melayu walaupun dihadiahkan jawatan Presiden itu.

    Presiden Melayu kita kali ini jika ianya terpilih akan dipersendakan dan kali ini akan lebih gelak dan memalukan lagi daripada yang dahulu dan puisi ‘Mati Pucok’ dari saudara Damanhuri Bin Abas politikus dari SDP sangat jelas kebenaran nya.

    Poetry by Mr Damanhuri Abas

    Mati Pucuk – Sempena Bulan Bahasa

    Maruah bangsa tidak berharga.
    Bila pemimpin dipilih sesuka.
    Mati pucuk pimpinan bangsa.
    Tinggal boneka bahan jenaka.

    Diangkat mahkota dibilang Raja.
    Mulut terbuka tanpa suara.
    Disuruh senyum Raja gembira.
    Kuasa konon ditipu bangsa.

    Dimata semua pembodek Kuasa.
    Melayu layu tidak semua.
    Akan ku tuntut Maha Kuasa
    Biar ku papa Maruahku Ada.

    Mati pucuk pimpinan bangsa.

    ✏️ Ismail L. A.

    Source: Mohamed Ismail Ismail

  • Rahayu Mahzam: “Beautiful And Dynamic” Malay Language Must Be Preserved

    Rahayu Mahzam: “Beautiful And Dynamic” Malay Language Must Be Preserved

    Describing the Malay language as a “beautiful and dynamic” one, Member of Parliament for Jurong Group Representation Constituency Rahayu Mahzam said on Saturday (Sept 3) that it was important to keep up efforts in preserving and bringing life to the language from a young age.

    “This year, we lost literary giants and language experts Allahyarham Cikgu Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, Cikgu Aliman Hassan and Dr Liaw Yock Fang. With the passing of these culture and literary figures, the responsibility of ensuring the continued usage and love of the Malay language now falls squarely on the shoulders of the next generation.”

    Ms Rahayu was speaking at the launch of the Bulan Bahasa 2016 (Malay Language Month 2016) at the National Museum of Singapore this afternoon.

    Speaking to TODAY on the sidelines later, she explained that the Bulan Bahasa was initially something that was celebrated every two years, and “it was limited to the literati, those who are very savvy with the language”.

    “Then there was the decision to bring in more people and once we started doing it every year, we also started looking at appropriate spaces where there’s a natural crowd and we can bring in families to enjoy and celebrate together,” she said.

    They began to scope out locations in the heartlands, intending to focus on just one spot. But they soon realized that they could reach out to more people if activities were expanded to more communities, she added. “So we decided to do more in the heartland and neighbourhoods and it went down very well.”

    Organized by the Malay Language Council, Singapore, this year’s festival, which runs from Aug 15 to Oct 15, showcases the dynamism of the Malay language through tours of exhibits and artifacts of significance to the Malay community, such as jewellery from Fort Canning as well as from well-known personalities such as the first President of Singapore Yusof Ishak.

    There are also a diverse array of Malay language and cultural activities at the museum and beyond. Over at Nee Soon, Chua Chu Kang and Sembawang, where the festival will also be extended to, residents there get to partake in activities such as Malay handicraft and Traditional Malay games, and view exhibition displays by Malay dialect groups. 

    Ms Rahayu, who is a first-time chairperson of the Bulan Bahasa committee, said “more than 50 partners have come together to produce over 100 programmes so everyone can continue to enjoy Bahasa Melayu as a beautiful and dynamic language”. New partners this year include Islamic artwork design firm Haz Workz Design, concept creation and production house Big Tree Pictures and youth music group Nusantara Arts.

    Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said during his speech that the events and programmes in this year’s Bulan Bahasa “are varied, rich and representative of how dynamic and alive the Malay language is in Singapore today”.

    “We are here today, because we share a common desire to preserve the Malay language and culture, and to pass on this love for the language and culture to our future generations. In diverse and multi-cultural Singapore, our Mother Tongues are pivotal in strengthening our ethnic roots, as well as our cultural and national identities.”

    During the launch, Mr Ng also presented musician Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad, actress Siti Khalijah Zainal and Jamiyah Ar-Rabitah Mosque education officer, Ustazah Nurul ‘Izzah Khamsani with certificates. The trio, who were appointed by the Malay Language Council, Singapore as its new language ambassadors, were chosen for their passion for the Malay language, culture and heritage.

    Meanwhile, students will also be heavily involved in the festival. Some 118 students from 60 schools were appointed in May to participate in the preparations for the festival, under its initiative Rakan Bahasa, or friends of the language. The students will be providing special tours at the Singapore History Gallery, as part of a special effort to ensure the Malay language and culture is appreciated by non-Malay speakers as well.

    Additionally, there is Rentak Kita!, a Malay Traditional Orchestra performance with sharing sessions in both English and Malay conducted by Orkestra Sri Temasak, which was founded by musicians Megat Muhammad Firdaus Mohamad and Afi Hanafi.

    Ms Rahayu said the increased programmes in the heartlands align with the future direction of Bulan Bahasa. “It allows us to showcase the platform to non-Malays at the grassroots level and that allows Malay as a national language to reach out to the masses,” she said.

    “I think (the future) direction is greater outreach, definitely, and a more impactful experience for those who participate in Bulan Bahasa as well as extending this spirit of preserving the Malay language culture over and beyond the two months of the festival,” she added.

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Jawatankuasa Bulan Bahasa Ke Geylang Serai

    Jawatankuasa Bulan Bahasa Ke Geylang Serai

    Sambutan Bulan Bahasa akan berlangsung dalam masa dua minggu dan orang ramai diajak untuk meraikannya bersama-sama.

    Dalam usaha untuk menyemarakkan lagi acara tersebut, Lembaga Warisan Negara (NHB) dan sekumpulan relawan mendekati masyarakat di Pasar Geylang Serai pagi tadi (22 Ogos).

    Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bulan Bahasa, Zaqy Mohamad, yang juga AP GRC Choa Chu Kang berkata: “Bagi saya, saya berharaplah bahawa masyarakat Melayu akan terus bersama kami untuk menyokong pelbagai program yang akan diadakan dan juga saya rasa apa yang berlainan pada tahun ini ialah kita akan juga melancarkan kempen Bulan Bahasa kita di estet-estet perumahan seperti di Choa Chu Kang, di Jurong, di Tampines dan juga di Nee Soon.”

    Buku-buku nota dan maklumat mengenai sambutan Bulan Bahasa juga diedarkan bagi menggalak masyarakat Melayu untuk turut serta dalam acara-acara yang bakal dianjurkan.

    Satu lagi acara sebelum pelancaran yang serupa akan diadakan di Kampung Glam pada Jumaat akan datang.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg