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Tag: PAP

  • 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

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Minorities Only Get What They Want If Authorities Want The Same Thing

    Walid J. Abdullah: Minorities Only Get What They Want If Authorities Want The Same Thing

    *when minorities ask for the hijab*

    ‘We must be mindful of the common space. It is a shared public sphere. We must not upset the balance.’

    *when minorities ask for greater cabinet representation*

    ‘We are a meritocratic society. We promote based on merit.’

    *when minorities ask about a minority Prime Minister*

    ‘Our society just is not ready yet.’

    *when minorities ask for more prestigious positions in the military*

    ‘It can be a tricky situation.’

    *when minorities ask about the navy*

    ‘It is a practical problem. There is just no halal food on board. What to do.’

    *when minorities (apparently) ask for a minority President*

    ‘Great idea! Let’s implement it at the next available opportunity! We are basically doing this because that’s what the people want.’

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

  • Jufrie Mahmood: PAP Policy Only Lip Service, They Are There To Protect Themselves

    Jufrie Mahmood: PAP Policy Only Lip Service, They Are There To Protect Themselves

    The fact that the constitution has to be amended and rules need be tweaked to, firstly, prevent Dr Tan Cheng Bock from moving into the Istana and secondly to allow a minority (read Malay as the Indians have already had two of their own) to be elected as President show firstly, how dirty the PAP is and secondly, how its policies to integrate Singaporeans of different races and build a united country for the past 5 decades of its rule have failed miserably.
    The expected raising of the bar would disqualify Dr Tan Cheng Bock from contesting while the lip service given to the national language and the perceived disloyalty of the Malays emanating from the PAP’s ill conceived NS and other policies such as immigration, SAP Schools, etc, have prevented Singaporeans of all races from intergrating as one united people.
    Unlike what is happening here our close neighbour Indonesia did it differently, where its national language is spoken fluently by all its citizens. They did not find the need the tweak its electoral rules enabling Ah Hock, an ethnic minority to be elected as governor of Jakarta without much fuss.
    Similarly the Americans did not amend its constitution to allow Obama, an African American whose ancestors came from Kenya, to be elected as President.
    The PAP is really a sick, racist party which does not practise what it preaches. Wayang and more wayang all the way – for 57 long years since 1959, to keep itself in power.
    Furthermore, Singaporean are not so stupid as to believe that a CEO who manages a $200 million company, for instance, is necessarily more capable than one who is in charge a $100 million company. The fact of the matter is they just want a president whom they can go to bed with.

     

    Source: Mohamed Jufrie Bin Mahmood

  • Andrew Loh: Forget Presidency, Why Has There Never Been Malay DPM?

    Andrew Loh: Forget Presidency, Why Has There Never Been Malay DPM?

    With the government expressing concerns that we may not have a minority-race Elected President if the current election laws are not tweaked, here is another similar concern – but this time regarding the position of deputy prime minister.

    In post-Independence Singapore, we have had 11 DPMs.

    And here is the interesting thing, the 11 have been:

    8 Chinese.
    3 Indians.
    0 Malay.
    0 Eurasian.

    Lee Kuan Yew’s Cabinet had one Indian DPM – S Rajaratnam.

    Goh Chok Tong’s Cabinet had no minority-race DPM.

    Lee Hsien Loong’s Cabinet has had 2 Indian DPMs – S Jayakumar and Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

    But all have not had any Malay as DPM.

    Is it a concern? Should it be a concern?

    In this era, it seems race and religion have taken on more prominence, and perhaps also more importance.

    While the PAP itself may rationalise its way out of why Singapore is not ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister, how about a Malay DPM?

    Or has there never been a Malay minister deemed capable enough to be DPM – in all of our 51 years?

    Maybe something to think about?

     

    Source: Andrew Loh

  • Kenneth Jeyaretnam: WP Helped PAP Kill Democracy In Singapore

    Kenneth Jeyaretnam: WP Helped PAP Kill Democracy In Singapore

    I note lots of bloggers and activists putting out the Hansard of the contempt bill. This is mindless propaganda. Any bill is going to get passed BECAUSE of decades of WP leadership undermining parliamentary democracy by ensuring that PAP always have a 2/3 majority.

    WP are no heroes here. Speaking in parliament about a bill they know is going to be passed is a no risk situation for them. As is every move by WP.

    If we had seen any action from WP before this bill was posited or indeed fierce objection to any amendment of the constitution over the past decades then they would have a right to preach.

    By ensuring the status quo can never be challenged they have killed our democracy.

    Stop wasting your words. PAP will, can and do make anything they chose into Law.

     

    Source: Kenneth Jeyaretnam

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