The Apolitikus

BENARKAH BAHASA INGGERIS PENGHALANG KEMAJUAN?

2008-10-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

Artikel dari the Malay Mail ini sangat menarik sebagai panduan kita terutamanya peminat dan penggiat seni budaya.

Hegemony of language
By Raman Krishnan October 16, 2008 Categories: Opinion

The permanent secretary of the Swedish Nobel Prize Academy, Horace Engdahl, has said that Americans are too insular to compete for the Nobel Literature Prize. Good thing he did not say anything about Malaysians.

In his last book The Curtain, an essay in seven parts, Milan Kundera talks about (Western) literature, comparing the parochialism of large nations and the parochialism of small nations. He argues that the parochialism of the former is a sort of complacency. Its like; we have everything we need, what is there for us to learn from the rest of the world. It is not just Anglo-American literature that it afflicts; we have also seen it in politics.

Walk into any Malaysian bookshop and you can see for yourself evidence of this. Yes, English is a powerful world language, my working language, and is (currently) very useful in commerce, in the marketplace. But in many other areas, I see it as a major handicap.

In literature, English makes us lazy. Many do not even bother to read works in translation, giving the excuse that much gets lost in the process. Certainly. But what will our world-view be if we never read Machiavelli or Kafka, to name just two?

Much has been said of teaching maths and science in English. Frankly, English is probably our biggest handicap in acquiring technology: if we were not so dependent on English we would have no qualms about learning technology from the Germans, or the French, or the Italians, or the Japanese (who acquired their know-how from everyone else, anyway)

Even in commerce, monolinguism is a historical aberration. Fifteenth century Malacca, in its heyday, spoke in a 100 languages according to the Sejarah Melayu. From all accounts, Venice spoke in dozens of languages too. With the rise of China, and a truly possible multi-polar 21st century, we are probably seeing the beginning of the end of English language hegemony too. I know, I am jumping the gun here.

But, I agree with Mr Engdahl. I have almost stopped reading English and American literature. I wish they would stop whining and simply tell me a good story. John Fowles was the last English writer I was totally fascinated by. Others, since, have been uneven at best. (I read Ian McEwans On Chesil Beach last year, and I remembered why I have stopped reading English writers. By the way, it was also one of the top 10 books left behind at hotel rooms in England according to one survey. Does anyone need further proof?) The Europeans, South Americans and Asians (in translation) are so much better storytellers.

The parochialism of small nations is, according to Kundera, a defence mechanism, the circled wagons. He was talking about smaller European nations in general, and the Czechs in particular. Interestingly, he says that Kafka might never have been discovered if he hadnt written in German a language of a major nation.

Then we have the tiny nations that might not matter at all, especially one with a linguistic attitude that can only be described as bodoh sombong. Our English is bad. That is given. But when was the last good Malay novel written? What has happened to good Malay prose? (I have had the opportunity to read some Malay prose lately, and it is not looking good. The last period of good Malay prose appears to have been the 80s.)

About four years ago, I found out that the National Library has a Reading Month campaign every July. I was told that it was something they had been doing for a while, though it appears to be a closely guarded secret. I saw some posters at the library itself (I was there for something else) and, I think, they might also have a song or two on the television. I have never heard any. It is possible I do not spend enough time in front of the idiot box. But it is also possible that their campaign is extremely lame.

Some months ago, Silverfish Books hosted a book launch and reading by Goenawan Mohamad and Lakshmi Pamuntjak. We had amongst the guests the Director-General of Dewan Bahasa, Datuk Dr Firdaus Abdullah. The question he asked these two writers from Indonesia was how they were able to speak such good English, while Malaysians had so much difficulty expressing themselves in the language despite their obvious advantages. Touché.

● Raman Krishnan is a publisher who owns Silverfish Books in Bangsar Baru. Website: www.silverfishbooks.com

Kenyataan Majlis Raja-Raja - Hidup Damai di Nusa Kenchana.

2008-10-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Mukadimah.
Nusa Kencana atau Semenanjung Tanah Melayu atau Malaya , Sabah dan Sarawak adalah sebahagian dari Nusantara dan bahasa Rasmi Nusantara adalah Bahasa Melayu. Menerusi post-post akan datang saya akan menulis serba sedikit tentang geografi, sejarah, dan budaya Nusantara. Untuk sementara waktu, eloklah kita memahami Kenyataan Akhbar yang dipetik dari Bernama ini sebagai peringatan dan panduan untuk kita tinggal di dalam aman dan damai di bumi Malaysia yang kita cintai.

Salinan penuh kenyataan akhbar khas berkenaan yang dikeluarkan oleh Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Engku Tan Sri Ibrahim Engku Ngah hari ini.

"Kenyataan akbar yang dikeluarkan oleh Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-raja Mengenai Peranan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong dan Duli-duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja-Raja Melayu berhubung dengan hak-hak keistimewaan, kedudukan, kemuliaan atau kebesaran Raja-Raja Melayu, Agama Islam, Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan, kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu dan kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut Perlembagan Persekutuan.

"Raja-Raja Melayu yang menghadiri Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja telah berunding mengeluarkan kenyataan akhbar khas bersama pada hari ini.

"Raja-Raja Melayu mempunyai peranan perlembagaan untuk melindungi keistimewaan, kedudukan, kemuliaan dan kebesaran Raja-Raja Melayu, melindungi Agama Islam, Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan dan kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain di Malaysia.

"Tindakan pihak-pihak tertentu mempertikai dan mempersoalkan perkara-perkara tersebut yang menjadi asas utama pembentukan negara Malaysia dan termasuk dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan telah menimbulkan kegusaran dan keresahan di kalangan rakyat.

Sebagai tindakbalas, beberapa pihak terutama pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu sama ada yang berada dalam kerajaan atau pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan orang perseorangan telah menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati dan marah terhadap pihak yang membuat kenyataan dan laporan dan menganjurkan forum-forum berkenaan.

"Antara sebab-sebab yang dikenalpasti berlakunya perkara ini ialah kedangkalan pengetahuan pihak berkenaan terhadap latar belakang sejarah mengapa peruntukan-peruntukan tersebut dimaktubkan dalam Perlembangaan Persekutuan dan pengaruh prinsip-prinsip kesaksamaan dan keadilan yang cuba diimplikasikan di negara ini tanpa berjunjungkan latar belakang sejarah dan keadaan sosial negara ini. Kepentingan politik sempit juga merupakan penyebab berlakunya perkara ini.

"Gejala ini jika tidak ditangani dengan segera boleh menyebabkan negara terjebak dalam kancah perpecahan dan persengketaan antara kaum yang boleh menjejaskan keharmonian dan keamanan yang selama ini telah membawa kemajuan, pembangunan dan kejayaan kepada negara.

"Justeru, adalah perlu Majlis Raja-raja menegaskan dan memperingatkan semua pihak tentang peruntukan-peruntukan perlembagaan tersebut di samping memberi penekanan tentang jaminan perlindungan hak-hak sah kaum lain. Perlu ditegaskan bahawa setiap peruntukan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan telah melalui proses perbincangan pertimbangan, konsultansi, pengorbanan dan sifat tolak ansur yang sangat tinggi nilainya bagi apa yang telah diperjuangkan, diperbincangkan, dipertimbangkan, dimanfaatkan serta dipersetujui oleh semua pihak yang terlibat, sehingga wujudnya peruntukan-peruntukan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang dikenali sebagai Social Contract.

Social Contract ini tidak wajar dipertikai dan dipersoalkan lebih-lebih lagi disemak semula atau diubah kerana ia adalah merupakan asas utama pembentukan negara Malaysia. Untuk itu Raja-Raja Melayu wajar mempertingkatkan supaya isu berkaitan Social Contract tidak sekali-kali cuba diuji dan dicabar.

"Sesungguhnya, angkatan pemimpin di era pra kemerdekaan, berfikiran dalam berpandangan jauh. Raja-Raja Melayu telah dibawa bersama semasa rundingan menuntut kemerdekaan. Institusi Raja dikekalkan dan dimaktubkan secara perundangan dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia Merdeka. Institusi raja diberikan kemuliaan, ditempatkan di puncak Kerajaan, sebagai Ketua Negara dan Ketua Negeri, laksana payung pelindung, menjamin berlakunya kesaksamaan di kalangan warga. Institusi Raja Berperanan sebagai faktor penyemak dan pengimbang, untuk merungkai sebarang kekusutan, sekiranya berlaku.

"Majlis Raja-Raja juga membuat seruan kepada orang Melayu supaya bersatu-padu untuk mempertahankan keistimewaan, kedudukan, kemuliaan dan kebesaran Raja-Raja Melayu, melindungi agama Islam, Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa Kebangsaan dan kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain di Malaysia seperti yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Penekanan juga perlu dibuat bahawa agenda ini adalah lebih penting dan utama dari kepentingan politik atau kelompok.

"Kaum bukan Melayu tidak perlu merasa khuatir dan bimbang tentang hak-hak sah mereka kerana hak-hak tersebut telah dijamin mengikut Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan peruntukan-peruntukan yang terkandung dalam Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri-negeri di Malaysia yang termaktub dalam Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

"Adalah diharapkan dengan penegasan tersebut, segala kekeliruan berhubung dengan perkara ini di kalangan rakyat jelata dapat dibendung dan suatu suasana yang harmoni, aman dan sikap saling hormat menghormati di kalangan rakyat dapat terus diwujudkan demi menjaga ketenteraman negara."

The New Secondary School Curriculum- Will it be holistic?

2008-09-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

The New Curriculum for Primary School was announced by the Education Minister yesterday. Some food for thought to the brilliant Education Minister.

First let’s look at Confucius sayings thousand of years ago – “Education begins with poetry, is strengthened through proper conduct and consummated through music”.

I was privileged to be the only outsider invited by Lembaga Peperiksaan for the new secondary syllabus and was assigned to work on the sekolah seni (Secondary school) syllabus. ( Until today I really dont know why they invited me - maybe for my work in Children's theatre.) That was in August 2007 in Malacca. The new syllabus will start latest by 2015. There will be two systems of grading students, one by the school (70%) and the other by Lembaga (30%). Well, could not contribute much due the participants (teachers & officials) has already makeup their mind (or being directed). First, I am quite surprise the discusion lingered on travel claim and new salary remuneration for more than an hour. I just feel like telling them that and I was there on voluntary basis and not being paid or promise a single cent. Until now, I refuse to make any claim. Further more I don’t think the syllabus (Seni) will work and it really need a fine tuning. Education is a serious matter my friends.

My question to everybody – can we trust our children future at the hand of a few teachers?

Let me end this post with another quotes from Confucius on education – “The young people should be good sons at home, polite and respectful in society; they should be careful in their conduct and faithful, love the people and associate themselves with the kind people. If after learning all this, they still have energy left, let them read books.”

The Agong is Apolitical

2008-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Except from My SinChew
Under Article 39 of the Constitution, "The executive authority of the Federation shall be vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agung…" But Article 40 (1) immediately spells out that the King shall act on advice of the Cabinet. However, in 40 (2) gives the King the discretion in the appointment of a prime minister, among other things. Needless, some are only to keen to point out that if the King can appoint a PM, he can also dismiss him. REad hear for the full article.

Stop Quarrelling,......Raja Nazrin Tells Leader

2008-09-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Berita ini dipetik dari Bernama.

Daulat Tuanku! Daulat Tuanku ! Daulat Tuanku.

IPOH, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, today called on the country's leaders to stop quarrelling among themselves and instead to focus on developing the nation's resources for the well-being of the people.Berita seterusnya...Di sini.

Read The good Tengku Profile here.

Article 153 - Perlembagaa Malaysia.

2008-09-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is quite relevant to my earlier posting. Enjoy reading.

Article 153

1. It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

2. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, but subject to the provisions of Article 40 and of this Article, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall exercise his functions under this Constitution and federal law in such manner as may be necessary to safeguard the special provision of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and to ensure the reservation for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences.

3. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, in order to ensure in accordance with Clause (2) the reservation to Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of positions in the public service and of scholarships, exhibitions and other educational or training privileges or special facilities, give such general directions as may be required for that purpose to any Commission to which Part X applies or to any authority charged with responsibility for the grant of such scholarships, exhibitions or other educational or training privileges or special facilities; and the Commission or authority shall duly comply with the directions.

4. In exercising his functions under this Constitution and federal law in accordance with Clauses (1) to (3) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not deprive any person of any public office held by him or of the continuance of any scholarship, exhibition or other educational or training privileges or special facilities enjoyed by him.

5. This Article does not derogate from the provisions of Article 136.

6. Where by existing federal law a permit or licence is required for the operation of any trade or business the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may exercise his functions under that law in such manner, or give such general directions to any authority charged under that law with the grant of such permits or licences, as may be required to ensure the reservation of such proportion of such permits or licences for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable, and the authority shall duly comply with the directions.

7. Nothing in this Article shall operate to deprive or authorise the deprivation of any person of any right, privilege, permit or licence accrued to or enjoyed or held by him or to authorised a refusal to renew to any person any such permit or licence or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of a person any permit or licence when the renewal or grant might reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events.

8. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, where by any federal law any permit or licence is required for the operation of any trade or business, that law may provide for the reservation of a proportion of such permits or licences for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak; but no such law shall for the purpose of ensuring such a reservation-
* (a) deprive or authorise the deprivation of any person of any right, privilege, permit or licence accrued to or enjoyed or held by him;
* (b) authorise a refusal to renew to any person any such permit or licence or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of any person any permit or licence when the renewal or grant might in accordance with he other provisions of the law reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events, or prevent any person from transferring together with his business any transferable licence to operate that business; or
* (c) where no permit or licence was previously required for the operation of the trade or business, authorise a refusal to grant a permit or licence to any person for the operation of any trade or business which immediately before the coming into force of the law he had been bona fide carrying on, or authorise a refusal subsequently to renew to any such person any permit or licence, or a refusal to grant to the heirs, successors or assigns of any such person any such permit or licence when the renewal or grant might in accordance with the other provisions of that law reasonably be expected in the ordinary course of events.
1. (8A) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, where in any University, College and other educational institution providing education after Malaysian Certificate of Education or its equivalent, the number of places offered by the authority responsible for the management of the University, College or such educational institution to candidates for any course of study is less than the number of candidates qualified for such places, it shall be lawful for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by virtue of this Article to give such directions to the authority as may be required to ensure the reservation of such proportion of such places for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable, and the authority shall duly comply with the directions.

9. (9) Nothing in this Article shall empower Parliament to restrict business or trade solely for the purpose of reservations for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.

1. (9A) In this Article the expression "natives" in relation to the State of Sabah or Sarawak shall have the meaning assigned to it in Article 161A.

10. The Constitution of the State of any Ruler may make provision corresponding (with the necessary modifications) to the provisions of this Article.

Sultan is the Shadow of the Lord on earth

2008-09-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

Update from my Previous Post.
"Well if state religious authority can be under the Istana, why not Culture,Arts and Bahasa Melayu?"

"Allahumma, 'jal lana min ladunka waliya, 'jal lana min ladunka Sultanan nasira..."

Sila baca saranan Tengku Mahkota Pahang.

See here for the Profile of the good Tengku.
Orang-orang melayu harus memikirkan saranan DYTM Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad, Tengku Mahkota Pahang. Raja-Raja dan Istana adalah pelindung kepada Agama Islam, Budaya, Seni, Warisan dan Budaya. Sama-samalah kita memikirkan.

Daulat Tuanku! Daulat Tuanku! Daulat Tuanku!

Artis Wanita tidak di benar buat Persembahan.

2008-09-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

Bad news for theatre and art in general. Read here.
To the malay intelectuals expecially THE SASTERAWAN, SENIMAN, BUDAYAWAN AND THE ULAMA , where are you? This is a very serious matter. Maybe Sheikh from Kickdefella can explain to us. Well if state religious authority can be under the Istana, why not Culture,Arts and Bahasa Melayu?

Thanks.

Who should be Apolitical?

2008-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

"To be or not to be" and "things are rotten in the state of Denmark" said Shakespeare.In This blog I will share my thought on our "art" and our "state" base on the above famous lines.

Who should be apolitical? Check this link.
The Army.....The Bar.....Tourism Malaysia.