KUCHING : DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Sarawak Publicity Secretary, Abdul Aziz Isa, said Finance Minister, Lim Guan Eng never showed any disrespect to the Malay language just because a press statement was in Mandarin as it was meant for the Chinese media to prevent them from misinterpreting the English/Bahasa Malaysia’s statement.
By issuing the statement in Mandarin, Lim did not violate Article 152 of the Federal Constitution nor the National Language Act (NLA) 1963/67. It could not be interpreted as disrespecting the Malay language.
Both Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Youth Chief, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and UMNO presidential candidate, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar who made a fuss about the Mandarin press release should just go and read the English and Bahasa Malaysia versions. They should also understand both Article 152 of the Federal constitution and Section 2 of NLA 1963/67, said Aziz.
“Therefore, I strongly agree with the Finance Minister when he stated that the new Malaysia is an inclusive, respectful and diverse county.
“It was also reflective of the new government’s recognition of Malaysia’s plural society. While safeguarding the status of Malay as an official language, we also need to master the use of other languages in order to increase our competitiveness. Without the doubt of a shadow, Lim Guan Eng is trying to give a good example to Malaysians that in order to be more competitive in the global market, we need to master the use of other languages,” added Aziz.
He said: “Article 152 (1) of the Federal Constitution clearly provides that the national language shall be the Malay language and shall be used for all “official purposes”.
“Article 152 (6) emphasises the meaning of “official purpose” of the federal or state governments or of any public authority. The primacy use of the Malay language is reiterated further in Section 2 of NLA 1963/67 and the preamble to the Education Act 1996. Despite Article 152, there are some permissible exceptions to the exclusive use of Malay language in administration, communication and instruction.
“However, along with such nationalistic provisions, the Constitution and laws embrace a linguistic diversity that is part of our rainbow-hued, federal nation.
“Let me remind both Syed Saddiq and Khairy in the case of Mohammad Syawwaal Mohammad Nizar (2010). This landmark case clarified that it is not unconstitutional to teach science and mathematics in English because under Section 17 of the Education Act 1996, Malay is the main but not the sole medium of instruction. Did they read this case?”
Aziz added that Under Article 152(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, the federal and state governments had the right to preserve and sustain the use and study of the language of any other community. This provision impliedly means that Chinese and Tamil languages can be used in the federal and state governments’ statements.
“From the face of the abovementioned facts, while adopting Malay as the nation’s official language, the Federal Constitution is not rigid in nature and there is flexibility to sustain and support other languages.
“I think both Syed Saddiq and Khairy are making the petty issue a mountain out of a molehill by turning this issue into a “Ketuanan Melayu” issue just to get cheap publicity for their political mileage.
“Throughout the ages, the then BN government has pursued the “Ketuanan Melayu” or “Malay Supremacy” agenda rather than “Ketuanan Rakyat” or “People” Supremacy”. As a result, this “Ketuanan Melayu” agenda has been inherited by the young generation like Syed Saddiq and Khairy. Because of this, they failed to recognise the minority rights like the use of other languages as stipulated under Article 152(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution,” he stated.
Aziz urged both Syed Saddiq and Khairy to understand the laws and Federal Constitution clearly. They should stop making this issue a race issue.
“Bury the hatchet towards the non-Malays and start to talk about uniting and building this nation. And if you don’t know how to read Mandarin, please read the official statement in Malay. Don’t make it so difficult. The rakyat (people) had enough of these nonsensical and superstitious arguments on race, religion and language in this country. We live in a modern age, not monolithic age,” added Aziz.
