FORMER Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) UMNO chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar has hit out at DAP’s five-term Sekinchan state assemblyman Datuk Ng Suee Lim “for eroding dignity of the Malay language” by using Mandarin in the state’s official affairs.
The former six-term Tanjong Karang MP claimed that the issue that he raised cannot be deemed as petty for the notification issued by Ng pertaining to the collection of the Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE) and Skim Insan Istimewa (SMIS) brochures is pertaining to an official programme by the state government.
“Personally speaking, the issue is important as the notification was written in two languages, namely Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin when only Bahasa Melayu should be prioritised given this is pertaining to an official programme undertaken by the state government,” contended the now Perikatan Nasional (PN)-slant politician in a recent video clip.
Noh further gave three reasons to fortify his concerns:
- It is compulsory for all official affairs to be communicated in Bahasa Melayu in tandem with Article 152 (6) of the Federal Constitution (which emphasises the role of Bahasa Melayu as the official language in the three levels of administration, ie federal government, state governments and the public authorities).
- Are we going to follow the footstep of the Singaporean government which constitution states that its official language is Bahasa Melayu but official affairs of the government are seen to be using other languages as well?
- There are also Indians in Tanjung Karang apart from Malays and Chinese, henceforth wouldn’t the Indian community be wondering why Tamil was left out in the said notification?
“If the programme is organsied by DAP, then there’s no question regarding the usage of Bahasa Melayu or Mandarin but we are talking about an official government programme here,” justified the former entrepreneur development and cooperative minister.
“After DAP having sparked a polemic with regard to the appointment of non-Malays as Prime Minister and the necessity for local government polls in recent times, we now have in Selangor the party’s Sekinchan representative who disrespected our Federal Constitution,” lamented Noh. “Beware that little by little, the Malay sovereignty is being eroded.”
For the record, Noh had in August 2013 withdrew the defamation suit which was filed on March 14, 2012 against Ng who is currently the Selangor state EXCO for local government and tourism.
Noh who was then the Tanjong Karang MP had filed the defamation suit following the publication of two articles in Selangor Kini (issue Nov 25-Dec 2, 2011) entitled “Paddy Farmers Demands Noh Omar’s Resignation” and “Noh Omar Betrayed Farmers; Absconded RM110m Meant to Help Farmers.” – Dec 23, 2023
