YOURSAY 'I hope DBP has not started thinking like Umno and Perkasa. It should not fear that Malaysians wanting to be multilingual lack nationalism.'

Dewan Bahasa: Dong Zong's demand 'chauvinistic'

Fair Play: I think Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) is creating a storm in a teacup. Did Dong Zong insist that Mandarin should be an official language like Bahasa Malaysia (BM)?

In addition to BM, which is the national language, what is wrong in other communities being educated in their mother tongue?

Nobody is stopping Malay youths from learning another language. In a global economy, it is important for all Malaysians to speak more than one language.

Wira: Bahasa Malaysia is already the lingua franca in all official communications in this country. It is also the medium of instruction in all public secondary schools.

However, please respect the languages of others out of a genuine concern for nationhood and not merely for political expediency. Take a look at our ringgit notes and compare that with China's.

Even though the Han language is the official language of China spoken by 100 percent of all inhabitants in that land, you can still find minority languages represented in their renminbi bills with images of their culture.

That is a real sincere gesture, at least at central level, to show respect to minority languages and cultures. DBP, your kind of one upmanship talk is useless to parents. The country needs to do much better than that.

LittleGiant: I believe Dong Zong is asking for multilingualism alongside Bahasa Malaysia as the national language. BM will maintain its status as the country's national language.

I hope DBP has not started thinking like Umno and Perkasa. It should not simply perceive or have fear that Malaysians wanting to be multilingual lack nationalism.

Being multilingual will not in any way lessen the importance of BM in the country's education system. In fact, multilingualism is a sure way for Malaysia to attain the goal of a high income and developed nation status as envisioned by the BN government.

But if DBP has some phobia and is of the opinion that being multilingual is "chauvinistic" then all it has to do is tell the government that it has no intention to recognise the use of any other language in the country and that the government can "go fly kites" with its ambitious globalisation policies.

Dood: This is the first time I've heard that being inclusive is considered chauvinistic.

Horns: Dewan Bahasa is just a ‘jaguh kampong'. What is wrong with multilingualism? Today, the whole world is learning Mandarin because China is going to be the next superpower.

Giudice: Instead of supporting the idea so that all Malaysians can also learn what is obviously going to be (if not already) an important language, they chose to prevent it in the hope of ensuring the survival of BM.

Does the case of Proton's protectionism ring any bells? As far as I am concerned, the more languages one learns, the better. English and Mandarin should be given priority and BM can remain the national and official language.

BTN: Mastering other languages does not make one less Malay, but in the long run it will benefit the race and ultimately the country.

This may be the solution to a strong and successful race that is ready and able to face global challenges without having to depend too much on those opportunistic political parties.

Veritas et Aeuqtias: I have no problem with mother tongue as a subject. But segregating a whole race into their own mono-cultural schools is inherently wrong, and anyone who disagrees is inherently racist or hopelessly ignorant.

Starr: On the contrary, it's the DBP which is chauvinistic in insisting on a monolingual education system.

The strength of Malaysia lies in its diversity in races, cultures, religions and education. Multilingual capabilities of its populace can only put the country in good stead in an increasingly globalised world.

The past decades of monolingual education system have jeopardised not only the future of our pupils but also that of the country.

By the admission of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was its chief architect, the monolingual system of education has retarded the English abilities of its graduates and hence affected their career prospects.

With the increasing influence of China in world affairs, it would be absolutely senseless to ignore the importance of the Chinese language. In other countries, Chinese language is increasingly the students' choice of subjects.

So, a multilingual system of education is not a choice but of necessity and practicability. Singapore is a prime example of the success of such a policy.

Blind Freddo: Zealous and aggressive patriotism, ie chauvinism, is how Malaysia got stuck with BM.

The only justification for maintaining BM is to keep Malaysians ignorant as nothing radical, controversial or innovative will ever be published in BM.

Politico Malasie : Firstly, the problem is that Bahasa Malaysia is not spoken widely outside this country, and secondly, you cannot keep changing the education system every two years.

Thirdly, the quality of our education is so low because there appears to be a hidden agenda to help the weak Malay students get ahead.

Mob1900: The right to speak in our own language is denied by even DBP and they say this is causing disunity. Who's the real perp here causing disunity?

It seems like DBP twisted the national language agenda to suit their own political agenda.

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