Sunday January 20, 2013
Call to ban politically incorrect terms like ‘ah pek’
By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Terms like ah soh (aunty), ah pek (uncle) and orang asing (foreigner) should be banned in government departments and state agencies, said a Barisan Nasional leader.
Kota Melaka Parliamentary Supporters Club chairman Datuk Mohammad Ahad said he would propose to the Chief Minister to direct civil servants to refrain from using such terms to address the people.
“From what my close friends told me, even bank staff address the non-Malays with such terms,” he said, adding that many people, especially pensioners, felt offended.
His friends, Mohammad said, were professionals who had once served in senior positions in government departments and felt upset that the younger civil servants would sometimes converse with them in colloquial Malay.
The younger civil servants, he added, should realise that these pensioners were from the “baby boomer” generation with good education and experience.
“They are knowledgeable about any issue and don't need to Google' to get information. Therefore, younger civil servants shouldn't look down on these older folk as being ignorant,” he said, blaming the social media for perpetuating such terms to refer to certain ethnic groups.
Mohammad, who is also Sg Putat Umno branch chairman, said he would propose to the Chief Minister that guidelines be drawn up on etiquette and customer service.
“We have to do something to label such terms as dirty words' because, in a way, civil servants who continue to address people this way can derail the noble intention of the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia concept,” he said.
Malacca MIC deputy chairman Datuk M.S. Mahadevan said many grassroots leaders felt that Barisan would be at a disadvantage if civil servants continued to address non-Malays with such terms.
“We have those who are in their late 60s venting their frustrations whenever they are described as orang asing,” he said.
- American pastor’s murder: Two more Pakistan nationals charged
- William Yau inquest: Verdict later today
- Haze: Muar’s 200 schools to close temporarily from today’s afternoon session
- MCMC offers free money to small businesses, few takers
- Haze: Muar’s air quality turns hazardous; many private kindies close
- China’s Comtec to build one of world’s largest solar wafer making plants in Kuching for RM1.2bil
- Penang freak storm: Only part of Jalan Macalister is open to traffic; CM annoyed
- Hong Kong national involved in train-car accident in Kota Kinabalu dies
- Chieftains handing out dubious titles
- Titles with no standing draw renewed attention
- Nightmare over topless pictures
- Pakatan MPs to attend swearing-in
- ‘Body buried 13 storeys deep’
- Striptease queen married five times in search of true love, says author
- ‘Divine empowerment’ for Muslim women
- RHB Research maintains "Neutral" on auto sector
- Kulim Malaysia offers RM812.3m for another 20% stake in NBPOL (Update)
- RHB Research maintains "Neutral" on IHH Healthcare
- Sumatec up ahead of meeting on O&G asset buy plan
- Ringgit falls to 1-yr low at 3.2010 versus US dollar
- Malaysia's KLCI falls nearly 10 points in early trade
- Malaysian equities to face selling pressure on Thursday
- Public Invest Research: TSH Resources becoming big cap plantation company
- US stocks down after Bernanke hints at slowing stimulus
- Assore - Assmang approves ferromanganese joint venture in Malaysia
- CIMB Research ups MY EG target price to RM1.74
- Malaysia-Market factors to watch on June 20(Thursday)
- Kulim to take another 20% stake in New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (Update)
- Nusa Gapurna rejects PKNS offer to up stake in PJ Sentral
- AirAsia wants no further delays in opening of new low-cost terminal KLIA2
- Paul Revington is glad to be back to train the Malaysian team
- Heavy task on Faizal’s shoulders
- Singapore Open: Chong Wei Feng fights to survive
- Rachel owes her rich vein of form to change in technique
- Future looks gloomy for men’s squash when Beng Hee calls it a day
- Gavin Green confident he can take on title-holders this weekend
- Zhang switches focus on developing golf in China
- Thaworn hopes to find his ‘A’ game in Selangor Masters
- Khairy: RM8mil to be forked out for Sukma due to lack of sponsorship
- A chance for local cyclists to shine
- Rahul survives weekend of harsh hurdles in Norfolk
- MGF set wheels in motion to unearth young talents
- Steady as Jie goes
- Ferrer loses title after opening round loss
- Heat edge Spurs in overtime to force Game 7 in NBA Finals
- Nightmare over topless pictures
- ‘Body buried 13 storeys deep’
- Striptease queen married five times in search of true love, says author
- Singapore's air turns "hazardous" as Indonesian fires rage
- It’s Honda Accord now for ministers
- Chieftains handing out dubious titles
- Titles with no standing draw renewed attention
- Fake Facebook posting claims housewife is offering sex
- ‘Don’t go out to Straits of Malacca at night’
- NS trainee gives birth in camp toilet
- Use of psychometrics assessment for employees can be controversial
- It’s Honda Accord now for ministers
- Singapore's air turns "hazardous" as Indonesian fires rage
- Nightmare over topless pictures
- Chieftains handing out dubious titles
- ‘Body buried 13 storeys deep’
- MCMC offers free money to small businesses, few takers
- China’s Comtec to build one of world’s largest solar wafer making plants in Kuching for RM1.2bil
- Sumatec shareholders to vote on Kazakhstan oil and gas asset buy
- Haze: Muar’s air quality turns hazardous; many private kindies close
RSS
