Anugerah Khas.

All my schooling life, I have learnt all things in Bahasa Malaysia. I have gone to Malay schools; with all Malay girls with a majority of Malay teachers, learning real Malay values. I spoke in a lot of English, though. I entered public speaking competitions, in English, mind you and was the researcher for a short while for the English Debate Team. I was also always involved with the English Drama. I was never really part of the Bahasa Malaysia ones.

I went to a University where English was its main medium of teaching. I didn’t have much problem since all the references were in English as well. I spoke English in class, read English books, learnt the art of blogging and started writing, predominantly, in the English language.

When I finished school, I managed to wiggle my way through job interviews because of my command in the English language. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that that’s the only important language. Bahasa is important as well. But English is the language which is more in demand, like it or not.

Despite what I say about the English language, I am still a Malay girl deep down inside, with Malay values ingrained in me. I still wear baju kurung. I eat sambal belacan with ulam and I cannot go a day without rice (boleh pengsan), I speak in Bahasa where appropriate. I’m working in a Government Department, where the medium is predominantly Bahasa Malaysia and I’m coping well. Adjustments can always be made if you are ready to adapt.

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Kalau nak buat Bahasa Malaysia jadi lingua franca macam dulu-dulu, fikir elok-elok tentang apa yang perlu kita perbaiki. Lihat sekeliling kita. Orang lain dah sampai mana dan macam mana dia boleh berjaya ke situ. Cuba buka televisyen dan tengok cerita-cerita Melayu. Bukan sahaja tiada kualiti, tetapi budaya yang kita tonjolkan bukanlah sesuatu yang boleh menarik perhatian orang bukan Melayu. Sedangkan orang Melayu sendiri pun menyampah dengan perangai sebegitu, inikan pula orang bukan Melayu. Dengan terjerit pingkau, suara frekuensi tinggi yang terang-terang dibuat-buat dan keterlaluan, sikap pemalas dan kuat mengata dan juga sikap suka mengalah tanpa berjuang dahulu.

Selain itu, apabila merangka “syllabus”, diharap sesiapa yang merangka jangan buat sesuka hati. Bahasa Malaysia amat sukar untuk difahami. Sebenarnya, penggunaan perkataan boleh dikurangkan. Ayat boleh dipendekkan dan dijadikan lebih mudah difahami. Tetapi, terlalu banyak perkara perlu diingati apabila berhadapan dengan tatabahasa Bahasa Malaysia menjadikan pelajar geram dan malas untuk mempelajari bahasa tersebut. Suatu masa dahulu, Bahasa Malaysia merupakan bahasa yang paling senang dipelajari. Apa dah jadi sekarang? Kenapa asyik tukar “syllabus” tersebut? Kami amat keliru.

Apa yang saya pelajari dahulu tidak lagi sama dengan apa yang adik saya pelajari sekarang. Beza umur kami hanya 9 tahun. Adakah bahasa Malaysia benar-benar tidak stabil? Atau ada pihak-pihak merasakan perlu menukar sesuatu hanya kerana “masanya telah tiba untuk perubahan (yang tak perlu)”.

Anugerah khas?

That was what I achieved when I left school. That was the award I received for being fluent in both English and Bahasa Malaysia. I got 1A for both, thank you. And also managed to get 1A for my TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language). You see, if you want a good balance, you can really do it. It’s wanting and not wanting to do your best that makes that difference.

A balance is possible, so stop making unnecessary noise.

Demonstrasi itu tidak menarik, tidak profesional dan terang-terangan tidak memartabatkan Budaya Melayu yang lemah-lembut dan bersopan santun.

Tak sedar-sedar lagi? Somebody slap them, please.