AN MP has said that those who do not encourage the mastery of multiple languages on top of the national language are those “stuck in the old age” and should not be allowed to hold positions that influence policies on the nation.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said this in response to PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s earlier comment that Malaysians who prefer English over Bahasa Malaysia are trapped in a colonial mindset.
Abdul Hadi, who is the Prime Minister’s special envoy to the Middle East, also criticised Malaysians who constantly “belittle” the Bahasa Malaysia language and claimed that “their souls are still trapped with the former colonists who previously enslaved them”.
On this matter, Dr Yii said that PAS and Abdul Hadi’s myopic view not only exposes PAS’s irrelevance in the modern world but is dangerous as it not only erodes the country’s competitive edge in the international market but pushes Malaysia backwards.
“There is no question on the importance of us mastering and promoting the importance of our national language but those who do not encourage the mastery of different languages on top of our national language are those stuck in the old age and should not be allowed to hold positions that influence policies on the nation,” he remarked.
The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief pointed out that in many instances, these leaders often rile up such narrow nationalistic sentiments to cover up their own inadequacy on the matter.
“[They also intend to] distract the people from real matters affecting their livelihoods that the Government had failed to address, including the rising cost of living and food price hikes,” he noted.
“It is a matter of great concern that rather than diversifying and encouraging a greater mastery of multiple languages especially when it comes to English, Malaysia seems to be going backwards.
“Our leaders must realise that we live in a competitive, volatile and globalised era where cross-border partnerships are essential for survival, which also implies the need for multi-cultural awareness.”
Dr Yii further stressed that the ability to speak multiple languages has always been the nation’s strength to remain competitive in the global market.
“The need to promote the use of national language should not be an excuse to curtail nor discourage the use of another, and those that are promoting such narrow views, are those actually trapped in a ‘obsolete-mindset’,” he added. – July 4, 2022
