There they go again

"DBP wants national language to be called Bahasa Melayu again - The Star"

Link: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/25/DBP-Bahasa-Melayu/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I cannot believe and understand why older generation of Malays are still refusing to acknowledge English as a global language. The fact that many Malays are realising the importance of mastering the English language and pushing it to be used as medium of instruction show the kind of challenges the younger generation of Malays are facing in terms of mastering English to be relevant in this fast progressing and competitive world.

Prof Datuk Seri Dr Md. Salleh Yaapar said: "I call upon language enthusiasts to fight these traitors who are becoming increasingly daring". Just for the record, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj is known as an outspoken advocate of using English as medium of instruction. Are you trying to imply that His Royal Highness is a traitor as well? And also to use the word 'traitor' to describe those that are pushing for the use English as medium of instruction is just inappropriate because those people have done nothing wrong against our country's interest. Heck, in my view, they are doing something that is beneficial to our country's interest. Period.

DBP coordinating body member Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar pointed out that the notion of English is needed for a country to be developed was outdated. He cited countries like Germany, Japan and China as developed country that do not use English as medium of instruction. I'm with him on this. HOWEVER, please bear in mind that these countries are advanced countries that have the economic power to support the usage of their own national language on the international stage. The reason that those international languages are international language is that they are major economic power in the world. I'm not trying to bring down our country but the fact is our dear motherland simply does not have the economic power yet to support the usage of our national language internationally. And considering the standard of English of our own ministers and ambassadors who are unable to string together a sentence without grammar errors or speak good enough English to represent our country on the international stage, I'm not sure if I want my fellow Malaysians to fall to their standard in terms of written and spoken English.

And I really don't understand why the 'ministry' bothered to entertain DBP's suggestion. Don't you have better things to debate in the Parliament for the rakyat's benefits?

To quote the late President Ronald Reagan: There they go again. *shaking head*