Yoursay: Nazri, aren’t your children fluent in English?

Nazri, please find jobs for these graduates

Retired_Sj: Kudos to Malaysiakini columnist Francis Siah for reminding us of the truly embarrassing statement by Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz.

We have to keep reminding these politicians that we will not “mudah lupa” (easily forget) their stupid statements, thanks to websites like Malaysiakini which fearlessly speak truth to power.

It is funny. Last week, there was an uproar from Umno/BN when former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that graduates selling nasi lemak is a shameful thing.

Where are all those Umno defenders now after the Malaysian Employers Federation came out to say that poor English skills are a key cause of graduates not being able to get good jobs?

Honestly, why is it so hard for our politicians to just agree that English is the language of the future and that it is very important for our graduates to have proficiency in it?

Hamzah Paiman: This is what happens when politicians utter things merely for political expediency.

These fly-by-night politicians will disappear when the damage is done as they won’t be in power to face the victims when the day comes in the future.

Rupert16: I can bet my last ringgit that Nazri’s children are graduates of overseas universities, and are fluent in English despite their father telling others that English is a threat to the country.

Royal Salute 21Y: The aim of this government seems to be to keep the general population as illiterate as possible while their offspring (like Oxford graduate Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin) are sent overseas (most probably at our expense) to be educated so that they can continue to lord over the rakyat.

Anonymous_b3cdcd05: Why would someone worry about something they themselves have consciously aided and abetted for vested interest? It appears that in Umno, merit-based education and English proficiency are only the domain of its elites.

Such elites have been at the helm for very long; they can be easily distinguished by their smart appearance, gift of the gab and the way they stick out among the average members. Can Nazri deny that his English education has given him an edge in his current status as a senior minister in Umno?

A case in point is the 1MDB scandal which was largely exposed in the international media. The Umno Malays seem to be the least aware or concerned over its huge implications on their livelihood and the nation as a whole.

Isn’t this a plus point for Nazri, let alone for Umno? So why rock the boat? This is why he would rather let sleeping dogs lie.

Clever Voter: Speaking out against the use of English has been a convenient tool to gain popular votes. BN politicians have no qualms about belittling the language although they use it at their convenience.

Such hypocrites, they will make sure their children master the language for they know the advantages but will not allow the masses to do the same. It’s simply because the less they know the language, the less they know the truth.

Not realising or not caring about the adverse effects, the BN establishment couldn’t care less so long as they continue to be in power, and the people including many of their voters, remain ignorant and dependent on their handouts, which do not include lessons in English.

Cogito Ergo Sum: Siah, the minister is of the view that if visitors want to come to Malaysia, the onus is on them to learn the national language. Those who can’t speak it are not welcome.

The private sector must be punished for perpetuating the use of English. That is the kind of thinking you are up against.

Perak Boleh: The Tourism Ministry shall employ all of these graduates as our tourist ambassadors and then compel all foreign tourists to take Bahasa Melayu lessons before visiting Malaysia.

SusahKes: Well, Nazri can hire those who can’t speak fluent English into his ministry, and he’d still be right; he doesn’t need “the widespread advancement of English” to do so. He only needs to teach his new minions this phrase: “I help you, you help me”.

Once they’ve mastered that – and the art of it thereof – do you think they would still care about the Queen’s English, dictation, pronunciation, etc?

Dr M: No need to study engineering if you want to sell nasi lemak

Anonymous 459: “The Malays don’t place a high value on the mastery of knowledge and working hard, that is why we are lagging behind,” said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Well, your ‘Malay Dilemma’ book addressed that topic decades ago, but you chose to champion the New Economic Policy (NEP) as the panacea and see what has happened to things now?

Clearwater: Why should anyone master knowledge and work hard if there is a “grandpa” that makes life easy for you?

The proverbial spoilt child expects never-ending handouts while the other children,  forced to look out for themselves, do just that.

Mahathir, who did his own part in spoiling the Malays, is now forced to face this cold fact in his old age. This is nature at work. It has nothing to do with stereotyping any ethnic grouping.

Tembikai: If the graduates are good enough, they can go to other countries to find jobs. The problem is they are not good enough.

Why are they not good enough? Because they have ‘kangkung’ (useless) and ‘cari makan’ (lazy) professors teaching them.

Don’t believe me? Go and sit in some of their classes. Also, look at their public comments.

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