(no subject)
thought i should archive this here instead of facebook. surprisingly, translating this into english was easier than i thought it would be. i think i would have more difficulty with a cultural piece instead of a political one, though.
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/04/14/dr-yaacob-ibrahim-asks-malay-graduates-to-seek-job-opportunities-overseas-if-they-cant-find-a-job-here/
Most interesting comment, at least in part because it was written in Malay. Language as protest? :
Yg Berhormat Tuan Yaacob Ibrahim,
Sudah sekian lama orang Melayu Singapura kehilangan hak istimewa yang telah termaktub didalam perlembagaan negara ini sejak merdeka. Kini Tuan menggesa mereka supaya meninggalkan tanah air tumpah darah mereka.
Tuan telah ditugaskan untuk bertanggung jawab dan membela nasib orang Melayu yang sudah sememangnya ditindas. Tugas itu juga adalah amanah dari yang Maha Berkuasa lagi Penyayang.
Orang Melayu telah merasa cukup terhina sejak kempen berbahasa Mandarin berpuluh tahun yang lalu. Sedangkan menteri menteri Melayu sebelum Tuan hanya diam membisu. Tuan pernah menyatakan satu masa dulu dengan tanpa rasa malu, bahawa
orang Melayu Singapura “unik”. Tidak sama seperti jiran jiran mereka. Adakah mengubah bahasa Melayu kepada bahasa baku, sambil mencipta perkataan saperti - Emosi, Inspirasi, Lokasi, Motivasi dan sebagainya, Tuan anggap itu “UNIK”? Sudahkah Tuan lupa bahasa Melayu adalah Bahasa Kebangsaan Singapura?
Pernahkah Tuan terfikir untuk mempertingkatkan kedudukan Melayu dimata masyarakat lain? Masyarakat lain begitu berjaya membentuk dan mempertingkatkan perniagaan atau syarikat kerana sokongan badan badan masyarakat mereka. Lantas memberi banyak peluang pekerjaan dikalangan mereka sendiri.
Pernahkah Tuan beri sokongan kepada badan badan Melayu saperti AMP, Mendaki, Muis dan lain lain lagi supaya berkembang dan bersaing dengan masyarakat lain? Lalu memberi lebih peluang kepada masyarakat Melayu mendapatkan pekerjaan dan mengurangkan pengangguran?
Haruskah masyarakat Melayu terus bergantung nasib pada bangsa lain, demi mendapatkan pekerjaan untuk selama lamanya?
Rough translation of the comment:
Respected Sir Yaacob Ibrahim,
It has already been a long time since Malay Singaporeans have lost their special rights which were enshrined in the national constitution (?) since independence. Now you, sir, are encouraging them to leave their homeland. (literally: homeland of blood spilled)
Sir, you have been tasked to be responsible for and to protect the condition of the Malay people who are being threatened (?). This task is also a burden given from the Most High, Most Merciful.
The Malay people have faced enough belittlement since the Speak Mandarin campaign years ago. Those Malay MPs before you stayed dumb and mute. Sir, you have said once before, without any shame, that Singaporean Malays are "unique". Not the same as their neighbours. Is the change of the Malay language to "bahasa baku" (formal, standard Malay), while creating words like "Emosi", "Inspirasi", "Motivasi" and others considered by you to be "unique"? Have you forgotten that Malay is the national language of Singapore?
Have you ever thought of bettering the position of the Malays in the eyes of the other communities? Other communities have been so successful in building and improving business and industry due to their own community organisations. Also (?), they have been given many opportunities at work from their own people.
Have you ever given support to Malay organisations such as the AMP, Mendaki, MUIS and others so that they will grow and compete alongside other communities? And thus to give more opportunities to the Malay community to get jobs and to decrease retrenchments?
Should the Malay community continue to depend on other races for its survival, in order to achieve employment, forever?
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So.... should I be rethinking my plans to go home?
---
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/04/14/dr-yaacob-ibrahim-asks-malay-graduates-to-seek-job-opportunities-overseas-if-they-cant-find-a-job-here/
Most interesting comment, at least in part because it was written in Malay. Language as protest? :
Yg Berhormat Tuan Yaacob Ibrahim,
Sudah sekian lama orang Melayu Singapura kehilangan hak istimewa yang telah termaktub didalam perlembagaan negara ini sejak merdeka. Kini Tuan menggesa mereka supaya meninggalkan tanah air tumpah darah mereka.
Tuan telah ditugaskan untuk bertanggung jawab dan membela nasib orang Melayu yang sudah sememangnya ditindas. Tugas itu juga adalah amanah dari yang Maha Berkuasa lagi Penyayang.
Orang Melayu telah merasa cukup terhina sejak kempen berbahasa Mandarin berpuluh tahun yang lalu. Sedangkan menteri menteri Melayu sebelum Tuan hanya diam membisu. Tuan pernah menyatakan satu masa dulu dengan tanpa rasa malu, bahawa
orang Melayu Singapura “unik”. Tidak sama seperti jiran jiran mereka. Adakah mengubah bahasa Melayu kepada bahasa baku, sambil mencipta perkataan saperti - Emosi, Inspirasi, Lokasi, Motivasi dan sebagainya, Tuan anggap itu “UNIK”? Sudahkah Tuan lupa bahasa Melayu adalah Bahasa Kebangsaan Singapura?
Pernahkah Tuan terfikir untuk mempertingkatkan kedudukan Melayu dimata masyarakat lain? Masyarakat lain begitu berjaya membentuk dan mempertingkatkan perniagaan atau syarikat kerana sokongan badan badan masyarakat mereka. Lantas memberi banyak peluang pekerjaan dikalangan mereka sendiri.
Pernahkah Tuan beri sokongan kepada badan badan Melayu saperti AMP, Mendaki, Muis dan lain lain lagi supaya berkembang dan bersaing dengan masyarakat lain? Lalu memberi lebih peluang kepada masyarakat Melayu mendapatkan pekerjaan dan mengurangkan pengangguran?
Haruskah masyarakat Melayu terus bergantung nasib pada bangsa lain, demi mendapatkan pekerjaan untuk selama lamanya?
Rough translation of the comment:
Respected Sir Yaacob Ibrahim,
It has already been a long time since Malay Singaporeans have lost their special rights which were enshrined in the national constitution (?) since independence. Now you, sir, are encouraging them to leave their homeland. (literally: homeland of blood spilled)
Sir, you have been tasked to be responsible for and to protect the condition of the Malay people who are being threatened (?). This task is also a burden given from the Most High, Most Merciful.
The Malay people have faced enough belittlement since the Speak Mandarin campaign years ago. Those Malay MPs before you stayed dumb and mute. Sir, you have said once before, without any shame, that Singaporean Malays are "unique". Not the same as their neighbours. Is the change of the Malay language to "bahasa baku" (formal, standard Malay), while creating words like "Emosi", "Inspirasi", "Motivasi" and others considered by you to be "unique"? Have you forgotten that Malay is the national language of Singapore?
Have you ever thought of bettering the position of the Malays in the eyes of the other communities? Other communities have been so successful in building and improving business and industry due to their own community organisations. Also (?), they have been given many opportunities at work from their own people.
Have you ever given support to Malay organisations such as the AMP, Mendaki, MUIS and others so that they will grow and compete alongside other communities? And thus to give more opportunities to the Malay community to get jobs and to decrease retrenchments?
Should the Malay community continue to depend on other races for its survival, in order to achieve employment, forever?
----------
So.... should I be rethinking my plans to go home?