Pas Chief S Slur And A Call For More Bm Usage

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 It is with great sadness again that I read about a PAS MP using what I consider a “slur” as a Malay, as a Muslim, and as a Malaysian when he raised the issue of the lack of Bahasa Malaysia usage.
I would first like to agree with the MP about the issue of Bahasa Malaysia being given a secondary status among Malaysians. Having been invited to hundreds of public talks, conferences, and keynote speeches, I can attest to this fact most certainly.
I feel that it is about time public talks on Malaysian issues should be some in Malay, especially at private universities. Being in a private university for 10 years now, I am sad that Bahasa Malaysia is completely sidelined… by Malaysians.
It should be high time that 10 percent of all academic writings by Malaysians must be in Malay and that at least 10 academic events a year at any private university be in Malay.
When my daughter who teaches Bahasa Malaysia at an international school is given a hard time by parents, I wonder if these Malaysian parents themselves use Bahasa Malaysia at home at all while they expect miracles to happen to their children who have no Malay friends like their parents.
Now, with regards to Marang MP Abdul Hadi Awang’s use of the slur word “ekor”, I think that the Dewan Rakyat speaker should ask him to retract the word and apologise. As a Muslim, the PAS president should know better the teaching of the prophet about using derogatory words on another person, Muslim or non-Muslim.
Hadi referred to Caucasians when he used the “slur” word “ekor”. The penjodoh bilangan for people is “orang”, not “ekor”. “Ekor” is the penjodoh bilangan for animals. Using “ekor” on people is considered derogatory in the Malay culture and it is forbidden by Prophet Muhammad.
In the Ihya Ulumuddin by Imam Ghazali, he quotes a hadith where the prophet reprimanded his companions for using derogatory remarks on the fallen infidels as this would hurt their family members and sour the relationship between Islam and future Muslims as well as other people.
I am also surprised that Hadi did not refer to the use of English in the Sabah and Sarawak’s legislative assemblies. I am also surprised that Hadi did not refer to or criticise UiTM for using English in all academic works of students and lecturers.
I think that Hadi’s use of the reference to “orang putih” (Caucasians) and “ekor” in a single breath would sour our relationship with not only non-Muslim Westerners but also Muslim ones.
I work at UCSI with several “orang putih” and they are all undeserving of the word “ekor” to refer to them.
How can we build a better Malaysia that has people respecting each other’s cultures and also build a better international relationship with the likes of this leader of a so-called “Islamic” party?
There is nothing Islamic in his adab (manners) at all. - Mkini
TAJUDDIN MOHD RASDI is a professor of Islamic architecture at UCSI University.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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