YOURSAY | 'It's is not a magic wand that can wave away ethnic tensions in any country.'

Malay ‘ultra’ PPIM chief speaks fluent Mandarin

Mojo Jojo: What glues people together is a sense of belonging and camaraderie, and not language alone.

If language was the deciding factor in gluing people together, Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) activist leader Nadzim Johan Nadzim here (who is supposedly fluent in Mandarin Chinese) wouldn't view the incident of a Malay nurse fired from her day job through racial and religious lens.

People should stop treating language as a magic wand that with one stroke, waves away ethnic tensions in any country. Even if the entire nation were to speak the same language fluently, discriminatory policies making members of one ethnic-religious group first-class citizens that simultaneously renders others second or third-class citizens, would not help heal inter-ethnic relations, but make them worse.

In the end, Nadzim is one of those people who worry so much about race relations in this country, that he finds it fit to only champion consumer rights of people from his own ethnic and religious group. What a patriot indeed.

Anonymous 772841445313682: Remember - language is just a tool to express and articulate your thoughts. So, maybe you know Chinese, Malay, or maybe hundreds of languages. But so what?

It's the thoughts you express via your language that counts. If your thoughts are racist, you are racist no matter what language you use. So Nadzim, are you racist, actually?

Lies, Lies & More Lies: Why give consumerism a religious twist? Is it just an opportunity to get noticed?

Prudent: I hope he is outwardly racist only because he need to ' cari makan '. But if one is outwardly racist or evil, what he or she is inside, does not count for much.

Sans Blinkers: You seem to be a rational guy who claims to want to promote national unity, perhaps you need to relook at your platform and your methods.

You are a businessman and you should know that if you sell the wrong product to the wrong audience, you will be a business failure.

Mahsuri AhahahaHa!: You've missed the point entirely. All the corrupt fools in MCA and Gerakan speak fluent Mandarin and share the Chinese love for pork, still they don't get majority or even any Chinese votes.

Why? Amanah is more beloved to this group than the Mandarin speaking and totally Chinese MCA.

Why? All those years of Chinese school education and you still haven't learnt the value of a decent day’s work, humility and not depending on the government for handouts. Why?

Ttc: Studying of a language alone isn't enough. It's like being given a tool; when misused, it can cause more harm than good. It's proper upbringing and infusion of right values that counts.

Anonymous 1281621434255574: It doesn't matter whether you speak other languages, racism is something that runs in the blood, family or environment. There are a lot of people who speak only one language and they are are so friendly towards their neighbours.

Anonymous #40538199: During the pre-Merdeka days, the minorities’ command of Bahasa Malaysia was much weaker. However, then the society was much more harmonious and various races could sit together and have meals in any eatery.

And they united to push out the colonial masters and achieved Merdeka without bloodshed. Now, we have children of citizens who score ‘A’s in Bahasa Malaysia in the SPM but are still seen as "pendatang" by certain segments of society.

I think social re-engineering would not be successful without a rotation of parties forming the government. We need a neutral civil service to uphold law and order without political bias. Exercise your vote in the general election wisely.

Just a Malaysian: I agree that all races should be proficient and speak Bahasa Malaysia. It is the glue that holds the races together.

Anonymous_3e79: Why waste time focussing just on Bahasa Malaysia? It's just a language. Keep it as a language subject.

But all sciences and maths should be in English. Bahasa Malaysia will not get anyone very far in today's global economy.

Detained 17 years, doctor disputes S'pore's 'official history'

HaveAGreatDay History is the account of the victor. Yes, Dr Poh Soo Kai's account will make for a good juxtaposition against the late Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew's 'Singapore Story'.

Hbasill: I wonder why the book is only released after the death of Lee. Is it because if released when Lee was around, he could have easily debunked your theories just as you have done in the book. Should have had the guts to release the book when Lee was around. Don't tell me the book was not ready. I like people to challenge Lee but not when he is dead and gone.

Prudent: Dr Poh, there is one disconnect: You said that Lee wanted the Tunku Abdul Rahman to arrest his detractors for him, Then why did he carried out Operation Coldstore 0n 2nd February 1963 - seven months before Malaysia was formed on 16th Sep 1963?

I have read Lee's memoirs and also personally recalled Operation Coldstore as it happened. My impression was that Lee showed his determination to clear the deck before Malaysia.

In so doing, he showed that he was a strong enough leader who could control, impose his will on Singapore and protect Singapore's interests in Malaysia.

I remembered that the Chinese in Malaya were impressed with his education, intellect, and the skills with which he wielded power. In jailing the communists, his concern was not to be seen as a British lackey as was his predecessor Lim Yew Hock.

By 1963, he had enough support to be seen as his own man. Nevertheless, he got prior help from the British who purged the PAP of pro-communists when they threatened to take control of the party.

Hopeful123: Sour grapes. What would Singapore be without Lee Kuan Yew is anyone's guess. Let us appreciate the good work and farsightedness of Lee than trying to condemn and paint a different picture of him and Singapore.

If we had leaders with Lee's capabilities Malaysia would have been the top nation in the world in practically all fields. People all over the world who admire and appreciate Singapore's success openly admit that Lee was the person behind it.

888: This poor doc has only his book to show his side of story. Lee has the whole country of Spore to show his side of story. Look out of your HDB flat and you see and appreciate Lee. Doc is lucky to live and enjoy the peace and security of Lee's Singapore.

Mahsuri: Thank you Dr Poh, rational folk can appreciate the great achievements of Lee but can also understand that no man or woman is perfect. Lessons can always be learned, and while you have earned the right to stick your middle finger up and damn the world, you choose instead to share your knowledge and face the public bashing even in your twilight years.

Let those who scream 'sour grapes' go figure out instead why they are so scared of the truth...probably due to small minds. Fooled only by all that is glittering in Singapore without seeing the underbelly that has created a generation of money-minded, brand-obsessed and me-first citizens who cannot think or do unless clearly instructed.

Malaysia needs to change, but Singapore's model is not the answer either.

Anonymous$&@?: Whatever the true intent is, Singapore is better off for not joining Malaysia.

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