LOS TEROPONG

"Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), one of the oldest statuary bodies in the country, is 50 years old. Its three-month-long Golden Jubilee celebration was launched yesterday by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail.

In conjunction with the launch, the King also opened Menara DBP in Jalan Bahasa. The 33-floor building is located behind the old DBP building. Also present was the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin urged Malaysians to help promote Bahasa Malaysia by making it the preferred language for modern communication. “I believe Bahasa Malaysia is capable of becoming a universal language in this region if we work towards it,” the King said.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in his speech pledged the Government's assistance to DBP in promoting Bahasa Malaysia."

Hmmm .... YESTERDAY, I received in my pigeon-hole a circular from the Registrar's office - Surat Pekeliling Am Bilangan 1 Tahun 2006: Langkah-Langkah Memperkasakan Penggunaan Bahasa Kebangsaan Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam.

(Cutting a long story very short) - This being the case, WHY, oh WHY do Universities now have to teach in ENGLISH. Why? .. Why?.. Why? .. Then after being taught in English, the Internet is in English (well mostly for Malaysians unless they know another foreign language), reference books are in English ... and then .... when they enter public service, they are supposed to be good in BM? Fuyoo ... whose Grand idea is this?? We will definitely end up being neither here nor there as far as BM or English.... BM pun kong-kang, ENGLISH pun kong-kang ... Aiyaaa, tak tau lah ... (btw, Bahasa Malaysia means Malay Language, to me at least ..)