Yaacob disappointed with negatively to Malay Language issue

Clivebenss SG

By Patwant Singh | Posted: 24 April 2011 1610 hrs

SINGAPORE : Environment and Water Resources Minster Yaacob Ibrahim said he is not worried, but disappointed by the negative reactions to his remarks on the teaching of the Malay language as a foreign language.

Dr Yaacob made the remarks while addressing 200 Malay-Muslim pre-university students at a dialogue session in Ang Mo Kio last Tuesday.

The minister was responding to a question from the media at the unveiling of the upgrading plans for Geylang West Community Club.

Dr Yaacob had at a dialogue session, suggested that methods used in teaching foreign languages could be explored, to find out if these offer more ideas in teaching Malay to children who do not use Malay as a primary language at home.

Joining Dr Yaacob at the event at Kallang Heights was Dr Lee Boon Yang, advisor to the Jalan Besar Grass Roots Organisations, who is retiring from politics.

Also present were Minister Lui Tuck Yew, Ms Denise Phua and new PAP candidate Edwin Tong.

The proposed upgraded community centre will have new facilities and be WIFI-enabled.

The event also saw activities to promote and cultivate recycling and environment-friendly habits.

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, said that he was quoted out of context as far as the Malay Language issue is concerned.

"The clarification by MENDAKI both in English and Malay - I hope will clarify the matter as much as possible what I actually said about Malay language. There are certain elements that continue to stoke the language issue for whatever gains and motives that they might have in mind.

"But I am confident that our community is stronger than that and they can see through all of these things. Rest assured that our support for the Malay language will continue and at the end of the day, we want the language to remain relevant and vibrant not only for the current generation, but for generations to come."

MENDAKI had in a letter elaborated on what was said at the dialogue session. The letter said that "Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who replied, clearly shared a common concern in improving and evolving the teaching of Malay to maintain its functionality."

Promoting the use of the Malay language was a key concern among the participants at the forum which is part of the continuing outreach by MENDAKI to engage youth on issues concerning the community.

Dr Yaacob's remarks were made in reply to a question on the use of formal Malay and colloquial Malay.

He noted that as the use of English at home becomes more prevalent, more creative ways must be found to keep Malay vibrant and relevant.

He also stated that Singapore is unlike, for instance, the rural northern states of Malaysia where Malay is the predominant language compared with the more urbanised Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur or Johor Baru, where English usage is also rising.

He cited the use of the movies of the late P. Ramlee (an evergreen Malay entertainment icon), Malay adventure stories and Malay classical literature as content that could be made to teach Malay contextually and creatively to the young.

To spur further discussion, he suggested that methods used in teaching foreign languages could be explored, to find out if these offer more ideas in teaching Malay to children who do not use Malay as a primary language at home.

- CNA

SevenEleven SG

other than MUIS explaining, he never even bothered to reply

BanguIzai SG

my Malay uncle oredi tell me the next generation of Malay language cannot make it liao. He already got big problem currently he complain his 10 year old son speaks Malay at home is already like a Singaporean Chinese person trying to speak Malay already. all his friends got problem with their Malay kids at home, coz they all speak English already

another Malay auntie told me her son even kena confuse by "ginjal" and "ganjil"

Shorter ninja SG

I dont know if this is right but through my observation I noticed that if a person of other race speaks singlish but sound very much ike a Singapore chinese it usually mean that his mother tongue is 'Koyak'

Clivebenss SG

They are unable to express properly in the language they are trying to communicate.

smalldot SG

teenagers and young adults are always quick to say that there are not fluent in speaking or writing in their mother tongue. how does this help?

Vote PAP OUT to Save SG SG

Harry Lee's policy of imposing an alien education system using alien language is weakening and destroying all of the local languages, all of the local cultures in Singapore.

That bastard must be removed from power and all of his rubbish policies must be destroyed.

Totally messed up Singapore culture, that fucking anglo dog Harry Lee Kuan Yew.

Harry Lee doesn't have a culture.

He is cultureless.

Harry Lee Kuan Yew is different from the rest of us in the fact that he has no culture.

You and I have a culture that we can call our own.

Harry Lee has no culture of his own.

When the head of a country is cultureless it affects the entire body of society.

Harry Lee is a worthless person in culture, now his policies are destroying all the local cultures.

That cultureless bastard must go.