TTF: NST pointed out yesterday (see news item below) that supporters of former premier Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak were out in full force at the Kuala Lumpur court complex.
True.
However, the paper either exaggerated or lied when it insinuated that most supporters came with “placards in both English and Mandarin.”
Only a handful did.
The paper went on to compare the recent outburst over Lim Guan Eng’s use of the Chinese language for official ministerial purposes with the placards Najib’s supporters were seen carrying.
By doing so, NST inadvertently relegated the Minister of Finance to the “level of the ordinary commoner,” meaning, Guan Eng was not accorded due respect by an official government mouthpiece.
Let us not forget that Lim is responsible to a ministry defined by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
That constitution clearly defines Bahasa Melayu to be the national language pursuant to Article 152 of the said law.
Article 152(a) states that “Everyone is free to teach, learn or use any other languages, except for official purposes (in which the use of Bahasa Melayu is necessary).”
It is therefore incumbent on the part of any Minister seeking to issue an official statement to do so in the Malay Language.
His (or her) failure to do so would translate into the failure of the Federal Government to uphold the sanctity and supremacy of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
But the failure of the commoner to do so would mean something entirely different altogether.
Article 152(a) clearly stipulates that he or she is free to use any language for any purpose as long as that purpose isn’t official.
Surely the NST knows that the gathering of people outside the courthouse to throw support for Najib cannot be considered an “official” thing.
As such, it was not unbecoming of the commoner to use Chinese letterings in the placard he (or she) held during the event.
It is, however, unbecoming of the NST to equate Guan Eng’s actions with that of the man on the street.
KUALA LUMPUR: Supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak were out in full force at the Kuala Lumpur court complex, with placards in both English and Mandarin, to show their support.
Arriving early this morning, the band of supporters carried placards featuring messages such as #freenajib and “Respect Civil Rights” in both languages.
It would seem that some placards in Mandarin were more visible than those in English.
Ironic, considering the fact that recently, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng was lambasted for releasing a press statement in Mandarin, even though it also came in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
The group appeared to be part a larger group of supporters from Umno.
Source: NST Online
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