What's the point of having our National Anthem and Langugage being in Malay?

[eErotica69]

I don't get it. Why don't they change our National Language to English?? After that, change the National Anthem to English too?

It is not that I am a racist or dislike the Malay race or language. However more than 75% of Singapore citizens and PRs cannot speak our National Language? Isn't it a joke?

Well, it was clear that when they first decide on the National Language in 1965, the Government then want to tell the Malay countries around us that we are also a "Malay" country. However, it is 46 years since we are independent, and everyone in this region knows that we are NOT a "Malay" country and most of us cannot speak Malay but English. So why don't we just change theb National Lanaguage to English?

You mean we still want to have Malay as the National Language just for the sake or having it? Come on.....

 

[Ramseth]

Encik Erotica. Tak boleh tukar bahasa negara kita. Bahasa Melayu ialah dan mesti bahasa negara Singapura.

 

[middaydog]

You want that dude who wrote the candy pop lady gaga ndp song to rewrite your maree keetar?

 

[Windsor]

It is called accommodation and a deference to our Malay/Muslim neighbours. Initially after the breakup from Malaysia, the former Singapore leaders made the wise decision. Until today, we carry on the tradition, for to do otherwise will antagonise our neighbours and invite trouble.

 

[Char_Azn]

You want that dude who wrote the candy pop lady gaga ndp song to rewrite your maree keetar?

Our new anthem will sound either like one of Lady Gaga's weird songs or like some K-pop song

 

[erection2015]

totally agree with your viewpoint.Try to change and we invite big problems.

It is called accommodation and a deference to our Malay/Muslim neighbours. Initially after the breakup from Malaysia, the former Singapore leaders made the wise decision. Until today, we carry on the tradition, for to do otherwise will antagonise our neighbours and invite trouble.

 

[psy83]

When a Indian meets a Chinese Hawker, they will converse in Malay.
Most old Singaporeans will converse in Malay with each other if they are not of the same Race, Even a Local north indian will talk with an Indian Muslim nasi goreng seller in malay.

Its an Identity and we should all learn the language of this Region, Its only spoken in 2 countries in the world.(Can be 3 if you want to bring in Bahasa Indonesia) It can be also used to
abuse Foreigners. A Local Chinese can use it to verbally abuse a foreign Chinese and it will also make our life much more easier in Indonesia and Malaysia.
You can wayang to be an Indian/Chinese from Johor Thus protecting yourself from being Ripped off.

So to the topic, I believe Malay is an Identity for all Singaporeans, It shows people where we are coming from- It also points to our history of Being part of Malaya.

 

[shOUTloud]

History and traditions are there for the future to see and understand. Why change for the sake of changing? We have teh Pledge in English leow. Having the anthem in Malay was a wise choice and should be maintained.

 

[Windsor]

When a Indian meets a Chinese Hawker, they will converse in Malay.
Most old Singaporeans will converse in Malay with each other if they are not of the same Race, Even a Local north indian will talk with an Indian Muslim nasi goreng seller in malay.

Its an Identity and we should all learn the language of this Region, Its only spoken in 2 countries in the world.(Can be 3 if you want to bring in Bahasa Indonesia) It can be also used to
abuse Foreigners. A Local Chinese can use it to verbally abuse a foreign Chinese and it will also make our life much more easier in Indonesia and Malaysia.
You can wayang to be an Indian/Chinese from Johor Thus protecting yourself from being Ripped off.

So to the topic, I believe Malay is an Identity for all Singaporeans, It shows people where we are coming from- It also points to our history of Being part of Malaya.

Sadly that is not the case today as most Singaporeans do not speak Bahasa nor even speak pidgin Bahasa. Otherwise it may be a way of identifying ourselves apart from the PRCs.

 

[Batok Seri]

(Can be 3 if you want to bring in Bahasa Indonesia)

A bit like saying the people in US speak American not English.

Actually there is no such thing as Bahasa Indonesia.
It is Malay.

When the court of Java (followed by the people) converted to Islam the people call it "masuk Melayu".
After independence, they need a language with currency to unify the large Archipelago of disparate people.
Thus, for the sake of nationalism Bahasa Indonesia was born.

 

[Leongsam]

Well, it was clear that when they first decide on the National Language in 1965, the Government then want to tell the Malay countries around us that we are also a "Malay" country. However, it is 46 years since we are independent, and everyone in this region knows that we are NOT a "Malay" country and most of us cannot speak Malay but English. So why don't we just change theb National Lanaguage to English?

46 years have passed but nothing has changed as far as the neighborhood is concerned. Singapore is still bang in the middle of a sea of Malays.

When technology advances to the point where the whole Island can be towed to a better location, we can then talk about severing all links with the region.

 

[po2wq]

... speak pidgin Bahasa ...

ah equalisation expert binya ... dey shud ask him 2 teach ... :o

 

[eErotica69]

Encik Erotica. Tak boleh tukar bahasa negara kita. Bahasa Melayu ialah dan mesti bahasa negara Singapura.

ไม่เข้าใจ :(

 

[eErotica69]

46 years have passed but nothing has changed as far as the neighborhood is concerned. Singapore is still bang in the middle of a sea of Malays.

When technology advances to the point where the whole Island can be towed to a better location, we can then talk about severing all links with the region.

Changing the National Language mean severing all links with the region?

Beside, this whole region already knows that we are NOT a Malay country. This island is multi-racial and English is the language that we use (to communicate with them especially)!

 

[Leongsam]

Beside, this whole region already knows that we are NOT a Malay country. This island is multi-racial and English is the language that we use (to communicate with them especially)!

It's a sort of diplomatic gesture to the neighbors and also to the Malay community in Singapore. It says "we acknowledge that we are part of the Malay Archipelago and that Singapore Malays occupy a special place as natives of the land.".

Trying to change it now would bring no benefits but could potentially inflame simmering resentment that is always just beneath the surface.

 

[Forvendet]

It's a sort of diplomatic gesture to the neighbors and also to the Malay community in Singapore. It says "we acknowledge that we are part of the Malay Archipelago and that Singapore Malays occupy a special place as natives of the land.".

Trying to change it now would bring no benefits but could potentially inflame simmering resentment that is always just beneath the surface.

I agree with that and furthermore, it serves as a constant reminder that Singapore is not a Chinese country, especially important with the PRC influx nowadays.

 

[Windsor]

I agree with that and furthermore, it serves as a constant reminder that Singapore is not a Chinese country, especially important with the PRC influx nowadays.

Agreed and we should be sensitive to the feelings of our large neighbours and whilst we are doing our best to co-operate with them, we should not be the reason for any altercation and disturb the relative peace all are enjoying. Futhermore, we have to try and maintain a semblance of the culture and history that is Singapore.

 

[fukyuman]

Already many Stats boards including SMRT are not placing Malay first even though it is supposedly our first language. Now it is usually English, Chinese followed by the others. Beside Malays and chow babas like pondan bapok Lee, how many of us understood the National Song beyond "Mari Kita" while many here refer it to "cocks standing". I'm not for changing for change sake, but the national Anthem has really dreary lyrics, most of us fall asleep when by the 2nd chorus and some even sang the third chorus "ma" while the rest of us chortled in laughter. I have a teacher who conduct the flag lowering ceremony and would do a Zorro gesture at the end. Someone remarked it looks like catching mosquitoes and for days we waited in anticipation in rib shaking laughter when he did the lightning strike. Ex students will stand outside the school and shouted at bald headed school teachers calling them "bozo", "gobi desert". Its really humiliating.

 

[Ramseth]

Already many Stats boards including SMRT are not placing Malay first even though it is supposedly our first language. Now it is usually English, Chinese followed by the others. Beside Malays and chow babas like pondan bapok Lee, how many of us understood the National Song beyond "Mari Kita" while many here refer it to "cocks standing". I'm not for changing for change sake, but the national Anthem has really dreary lyrics, most of us fall asleep when by the 2nd chorus and some even sang the third chorus "ma" while the rest of us chortled in laughter. I have a teacher who conduct the flag lowering ceremony and would do a Zorro gesture at the end. Someone remarked it looks like catching mosquitoes and for days we waited in anticipation in rib shaking laughter when he did the lightning strike. Ex students will stand outside the school and shouted at bald headed school teachers calling them "bozo", "gobi desert". Its really humiliating.

You must understand that there're four official languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Of these four official languages, English is the first language and Malay is the national language. Whatever language we want to speak at home or in the streets, that's our personal affairs.

 

[sirus]

I remember when I was in primary 1, there's a subject called Bahasa Kebangsaan. Then it was abolished the following year.