If you happened to read the 31st May 2006 edition of The Star, “Mandarin demand is discriminatory”, what will you assume? Ok before this I shall brief up those who haven’t read the article yet. Since there are a lot of races in Malaysia and there is a whole long list of sensitive issues here, the story goes like this:

The deputy prime minister urged the private sector to stop the practice of making it compulsory for local graduates to have a command of mandarin language.

And the motive behind it? There are about 32% of graduates that couldn’t secure a job last year.. So? Who are the jobless graduates? Those who cannot speak mandarin? Or we shall see it as “certain race”.

As what they say MALAYSIA is heading towards a developed nation status, so meaning everyone should be progressive. So if some certain race of graduates are left behind, why don’t they pick up the initiative of learning a new language. It’s no harm to learn a new ability. And some more, (here the cliché starts) the Chinese government has open up their market and we can feel the importance of mandarin. The “certain race” is trapped in their own community, lack of exposures, and too much feeding from the government that they cannot be independent.

Seriously I don’t see the act of private sectors to demand their employee to be multilingual as DISCRIMINATORY. We are competing in a global market and there won’t be any government backing for every task that we do. Do you all have time for a joke? Those “certain race” giving lecture in university can’t even utter a good phrase of English moreover speaking in Chinese. English is an international language and for those working in government university who are not proficient in English, where should they be? Go and teach in SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN. And give way to those who are more eligible?

Ok, even if the prefer for mandarin command is taken down from the ads, and during the interview we compare these 2 resumes:

1. Language spoken : Mandarin, Malay, English
2. Language spoken : Malay, English (and this one couldn’t speak in English during the interview)

Which one will you choose? I rest my case.

And if that whatever Abdullah Awang of PAS DID win the election and become the PM. What can he do? He only knows how to speak in Malay or maybe some Arabic. Then? How is he going to communicate with the international society?

So this is the importance of learning more languages. From all above it’s still in the hand of the employer to select the most eligible employee fir a particular post.

It is undeniable the government is trying to protect some “certain race” but this is not a way to help them.. This is only a way to pamper them. Why should they worry? I thought the constituency has secure a 30% seats for the race. Quota fillers I would say. So if the “certain race” can’t handle the heat, why don’t they just work for the government? Stable income, a lot of “minum kopi” time, high job prospect, no much supervising, less stress…

This world only cater for the fittest, and if you are not that good enough… why don’t you just get lost… You are lucky cause you are in the “certain race” category, or else…

Last question, are you COMPETITIVE enough?

posted by Angelus @ 12:56 AM