The Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah said people should not be hasty in presenting the weaknesses of Malays as their national identity as though being weak and incompetent is the monopoly of the race.
“Wake up! When a race chooses to belittle itself, it emboldens others to humiliate it. Ultimately, the race will be seen as destitute and its traditions and culture cast out,” he said when delivering the keynote address at the Second Malay Education Congress here yesterday.
He said Malays should not fall into the trap so easily and echo the same views to put down their own race. “When shortcomings are interpreted as weaknesses, we are actually equating padi to lallang and rice to sand,” he said. Malays, he said, should be evaluated fairly and intelligently through a wider scope that looked at all aspects like history, politics, time and culture so that the strengths could be reinforced and the weaknesses overcome.
Raja Nazrin said a race that could identify its weaknesses and succeed in overcoming them would build itself into a strong one. He said that just because there were some Malays who were lazy, it did not mean that the Malay culture encouraged laziness until it was accepted as part of the character trait. According to him, the honour of the race must be defended by instilling a sense of pride and confidence.
AUTHOR'S COMMENT:
Raja Nazrin was absolutely right.
The recent results of SPM and STPM clearly shows that the Malays were NEVER inferior in the ability in achieving success if they work for it. There are also many other Malays currently studying overseas, who had achieve great results. This is testament of their abilities and capabilities.
Similarly, in the civil services and entreprenuers, you can name names of the many Malays who had achieve great successes through their dedication and hardwork.
So, why are there such paranoia? Who is presenting the weaknesses of Malays as their national identity as though being weak and incompetent is the monopoly of the race? Raja Nazrin was not specific when he made this comment.
From the point of views of the other races, as a Chinese Malaysian, being a friend of so many Malays, and as academician, I cannot see the rational of the statement. Many of my Malay friends had achieve tremendous successes in their lives, their careers and having beautiful families. They were happy people, proud of their achievements, and seeking continuous improvements in whatever they are endeavoring. Of course, they do have grouses, as are all the others.
I believe, the only problem within the community and the social aspects is primarily the concerns of many Malays, particularly those in schools and universities, who are weak in English. Due to their incompetencies in the English language, they may have to face difficulties when they begin their career - the question of UNEMPLOYABLE in the global economy.
For those who are fortunate to be accepted into the government services, they would have less headaches. It is because Bahasa Malaysia is still the main language used within the civil service and additionally, the government and the civil service departments does take effort to provide their employees with trainings to improve their knowledge as well as to improve their English.
But, what about those in the private sectors and those who aspires to join multi-national companies? If they are weak in English, they may have problem. In a global economy, every Malaysian, of all races, will have to master the English language, as this is the accepted normal medium of communication - in speaking, writing and reading. At such, for those who are weak in English, it is therefore necessary to make effort to master the English language to remain employable.
To the Malays, and to the non-Malays as well, my advice is: Start your mastering English journey. Do not depend on the schools and universities to deliver it to you. Everyone can improve their English, as well as any other languages, if they put efforts to master it. Success depends on self-determination. If you want it, you can get it provided you put efforts to it. Without it, you stand as a competitively disadvanatageous product
BEST OF LUCK & GOD BLESS YOU!
“Wake up! When a race chooses to belittle itself, it emboldens others to humiliate it. Ultimately, the race will be seen as destitute and its traditions and culture cast out,” he said when delivering the keynote address at the Second Malay Education Congress here yesterday.
He said Malays should not fall into the trap so easily and echo the same views to put down their own race. “When shortcomings are interpreted as weaknesses, we are actually equating padi to lallang and rice to sand,” he said. Malays, he said, should be evaluated fairly and intelligently through a wider scope that looked at all aspects like history, politics, time and culture so that the strengths could be reinforced and the weaknesses overcome.
Raja Nazrin said a race that could identify its weaknesses and succeed in overcoming them would build itself into a strong one. He said that just because there were some Malays who were lazy, it did not mean that the Malay culture encouraged laziness until it was accepted as part of the character trait. According to him, the honour of the race must be defended by instilling a sense of pride and confidence.
AUTHOR'S COMMENT:
Raja Nazrin was absolutely right.
The recent results of SPM and STPM clearly shows that the Malays were NEVER inferior in the ability in achieving success if they work for it. There are also many other Malays currently studying overseas, who had achieve great results. This is testament of their abilities and capabilities.
Similarly, in the civil services and entreprenuers, you can name names of the many Malays who had achieve great successes through their dedication and hardwork.
So, why are there such paranoia? Who is presenting the weaknesses of Malays as their national identity as though being weak and incompetent is the monopoly of the race? Raja Nazrin was not specific when he made this comment.
From the point of views of the other races, as a Chinese Malaysian, being a friend of so many Malays, and as academician, I cannot see the rational of the statement. Many of my Malay friends had achieve tremendous successes in their lives, their careers and having beautiful families. They were happy people, proud of their achievements, and seeking continuous improvements in whatever they are endeavoring. Of course, they do have grouses, as are all the others.
I believe, the only problem within the community and the social aspects is primarily the concerns of many Malays, particularly those in schools and universities, who are weak in English. Due to their incompetencies in the English language, they may have to face difficulties when they begin their career - the question of UNEMPLOYABLE in the global economy.
For those who are fortunate to be accepted into the government services, they would have less headaches. It is because Bahasa Malaysia is still the main language used within the civil service and additionally, the government and the civil service departments does take effort to provide their employees with trainings to improve their knowledge as well as to improve their English.
But, what about those in the private sectors and those who aspires to join multi-national companies? If they are weak in English, they may have problem. In a global economy, every Malaysian, of all races, will have to master the English language, as this is the accepted normal medium of communication - in speaking, writing and reading. At such, for those who are weak in English, it is therefore necessary to make effort to master the English language to remain employable.
To the Malays, and to the non-Malays as well, my advice is: Start your mastering English journey. Do not depend on the schools and universities to deliver it to you. Everyone can improve their English, as well as any other languages, if they put efforts to master it. Success depends on self-determination. If you want it, you can get it provided you put efforts to it. Without it, you stand as a competitively disadvanatageous product
BEST OF LUCK & GOD BLESS YOU!
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