Wa hiao kong Hokkien
Oct 15, 2008 Rantings
Apologies for the blatant murder of the Hokkien language, in my title above but, er, it’s the best I can do. Never mind that I am of Hokkien descent, I can barely say a word, let alone four.
Well, the same might not be the case for cops in Penang. Today’s The Star reports that police officers in Penang has been offered the opportunity to take Hokkien dialect courses to improve their communication skills. This is a fantastic idea, methinks, not only because personal development is so crucial for everyone but also because it will allow them to do their jobs better - after all, Hokkien is used widely in the state.
Apparently, 35 officers from various races have already undergone the training in August, and there is to be another course in November.
Bravo!
2.41pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
9 local to 1 foreign song on radio?
Oct 13, 2008 Rantings
I must have missed the story before, but there was an interview today with Commercial Radio Malaysia president Datuk Borhanuddin Osman in the NST.
The interview was to get Borhanuddin’s reaction to Karyawan’s appeal to the Government for a more fair group on privately-owned radio stations. Apparently, in August, the Malaysian Artistes Association’s president Freddie Fernandez had presented a memorandum to the Energy, Water and Communications Minister, appealing for a 9:1 ratio of local to foreign songs.
Aiyo, it’s good to know that it’s not only our politicians who make stupid remarks.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for supporting local artistes. But to listen to nine of their songs before I get to listen to one foreign song? Er, no thanks.
I mean, let’s not even get into the argument of quality. But quantity wise, it just doesn’t make sense. After all, the ratio of musicians around the world is probably hundreds of thousands to one. Even a 1:9 ratio would be too much.
Even Borhanuddin said:
The other industries in Malaysia do not employ a 9:1 local to foreign ratio. Otherwise, 90 per cent of cars, magazines or food sold here would be locally-made.
Other products or consumer services are enjoying the freedom of choice so why should radio listeners be any different?
It’s like saying there can only be one BMW (or Mercedes, or Toyota, or Honda) to five Protons and four Peroduas. Oh, the horror (although, I do love my Waja).
I understand that efforts are being made to find a way to get more local music out there, but I think that organisations like Karyawan should be more creative.
Because I think that if such policies, or worse, legistlations, are put into place, then it will be the users who will get more creative. And the industry will lose out even more.
Already most radios in cars have CD players (so we don’t actually need to listen to the radio) but also, there are so many options. iPods can be transmitted via airwaves to play on your radio quite easily and new phones have features which allow us to listen to foreign radio stations.
But you know what, I’m not even upset. I find this extremely funny. And I think it will be even funnier if the Government actually does implement this.
10.53am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Me smoking is not my parents’ fault
Oct 10, 2008 Rantings
Here’s a confession - I have previously experimented with smoking (I don’t smoke anymore, by the way).
Yes, yes, I know. Filthy habits, blah blah blah.
Funny thing is, I never got busted (or maybe I did, but everyone - mum and dad included - were nice not to take me to task). Funnily enough, the times I did get called upon (moments when I had a pack of ciggarettes in my bag, or a lighter lying around, or when my car smelt of smoke) - they weren’t mine. I was either hanging on to them for a friend, or a heavy smoker had just sat in my car.
So it wasn’t that my parents didn’t care (they were smokers before but quit many, many years ago) - there was just no way they could have found out if I didn’t want them too. They could hardly punish me if they didn’t catch me in the act. After all, I (and honestly too) denied it everytime they found something suspicious.
So I don’t think much of this letter, by Samuel Yesuiah from Seremban, published in the Letters page in today’s NST titled:
TEENAGERS WHO SMOKE: Penalise the parents of the smokers
Samuel was responding to an article in the NST about teens and the smoking syndrome. He (presumably, of course) says that kids as young as 10 years old are smoking. “Female students are also puffing away.” Er, sexist a little bit? Besides (and I am by no way condoning the act of smoking), haven’t women been smoking forever?
I do agree with a few of his points though - that schools should be more stringent in their checks although, he spoke about prefects who do not report those who smoke (er, maybe ‘cos a lot of them smoke too?); that there is a need for more anti-smoking campaigns (although, perhaps not quantity wise, but more of effective campaigns)’ and that the police and enforcement officers should nab students who smoke.
But it stops here. Because he then goes on to suggest that the cops should call the parents and slap them with a heavy fine.
He even suggest that it is baffling that parents are unaware of their children’s habits - or worse, have given up on their children.
How dare he?
I would be extremely offended if someone was to suggest that my parents didn’t care. That I was able to deceive them is not a reflection of their parenting skills. It’s not as if my parents had never warned me about the dangers of smoking, or the consequences (both at being caught by them, and the long-term physical effects it will have on my body).
I experimented with smoking because I didn’t want to be showed up by the other kids. In fact, I was laden with guilt at every puff I took as a teenager - so much so that my first few puffs were fake. I didn’t inhale - until I got busted by my friends, teased tremendously and then decided that “I would show them”. And I did.
I am not saying that parents should not be involved when their child is busted for smoking. It is a bad thing, and every effort must be taken to ensure that kids live as healthy a lifestyle as possible. But to slap them with a fine is, in my opinion, wrong.
The people who should be fined are those caught providing these minors with ciggarettes. Whether it’s storekeepers, older friends or yes, parents too - these are the people who should be held responsible.
I think we all need to give parents the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their best, and that they have their child’s best interest at heart. And that is one thing, with most parents anyway, that you can’t take away from them.
10.51am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Malaysia’s football twins
Oct 7, 2008 Rantings
Have you ever heard of Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak and Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak? Both are 21 years old, both play for Negri Sembilan and both have made it to the Malaysian national football team.
Both are also twins.
Caught your attention? I thought it might.
I have not followed Malaysian football in a very long time. As a kid, dad and his friends would bring us to watch games (my sister and I, both born in Selangor, supported our “state” team) at Stadium Merdeka. Over the years, we slowly lost interest - and from the looks of it, so did the rest of our country.
Okay, so maybe the team hasn’t been doing very well (I’m being nice, btw) and who wants to support a team that constantly loses (well, some people, but not many).
Still, it’s our national team and surely, we should take some pride in it (we don’t have to watch the games or anything if we’re not interested, but surely no need to kutuk like mad). And it is here that I think the twins can help (if the Associations and football people are smart enough).
The fact is, everybody loves icons. That’s why the younger generation loves Hollywood so much. But not just that, sports icons have traditionally been choice icons. From Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan, Eric Cantona to David Beckham, Lance Armstrong, Michael Schumacher - and yes, even our Nicol David (sorry, Dato’) - the icons exist to motivate us and help us, if nothing else, dream of becoming as successful as them some day.
The icons have great influence as well - which is why the Lance Armstrong Foundation is doing so well, why HIV became such a hot topic in sports when Magic Johnson was diagnosed and why Britain uses Rio Ferdinand to speak out against racism in sports and David Beckham is called on to talk against violent crimes among youths.
Here we have a great package - the brothers are talented, have good looks and the ultimate novelty factor - there are two of them. Nike obviously saw the potential - the brothers were the Malaysian representatives for the Nike Football campaign a couple of years ago (that’s when the image above was taken) along with other footballers from the region. It was also when I first heard of them.
Which is why I think it is great that the FA of Malaysia is supporting their decision to play in the Slovakia Professional League next year, as reported in today’s NST. Sure, it’s not the English Football League but at least efforts are being put in to help them improve.
And if the local system is indeed to be blamed for the weak squads we have been producing for years now, then maybe they do need to go elsewhere to better themselves. Plus, hopefully it will bring some attention to the sport.
After all, kids in Malaysia still do grow up playing sports. It’s only when they leave school, and realise that there are so little opportunities for them, that they give it up. Football has for a long time been the game of choice for many people - it doesn’t require a lot of money, all they need is one ball for a whole load of friends and an empty space.
Zafuan and Zaquan can be the ultimate ambassadors for Malaysian football. I hope that they realise what role they can play, and the authorities will maximise (appropriately, of course) this opportunity.
1.47pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak
