Songkok as compulsory uniform for prefects – JB English College backs down


At 20:56,19 hours yesterday, on my thread “Songkok compulsory wear for JB English College prefects”, a blog visitor left the following posting:

However, as far as the “EC prefect wearing songkok issue” is concerned, I am surprised that no one has yet posted that the issue has been resolved amicably as the headmaster himself has announced today during an emergency prefects meeting that it is NOT compulsory for the prefects to wear the songkok for whatever function or duty.

This morning, I phoned and spoke to the principal of Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (formerly English College) Johor Bahru, Haji Zulkifli bin Mahmood and he confirmed the veracity of the posting on my blog – that he had announced that it is not compulsory for school prefects to wear the songkok for whatever function or duty.

I welcome the return to sanity, as the compulsory imposition of the songkok issue has attracted considerable flak and traffic on my blog with three threads and 359 comments in four days, viz:

1. Songkok compulsory wear for JB English College prefects (11.1.08) – 133 comments

2. Songkok made compulsory – latest in series of insensitivities usurping “middle ground” (11.1.08) – 87 comments

3. Suspend “Little Napoleons” school principals who trample on rights and sensitivities of plural Malaysia (12.1.08) – 139 comments

I commend the parent of the school prefect who not only gave full support to his son, a Form Five student who had been a prefect since he was Form Two, to stand firm on principle to the extent of being prepared to resign as school prefect and for bringing this issue into public domain to bring public pressure to end abuses and misuses of power and rank disregard of the legitimate rights and sensitivities of all communities and religions in plural Malaysia.

The lesson here is clear – Malaysians must stand up for their fundamental and constitutional rights as citizens of a plural nation as nobody will stand up for them unless they are prepared to come forward to speak and cry out against excesses and abuses of power. If they do so, they can be assured of the support of right-thinking middle-ground moderate Malaysians – and this blog is dedicated to defend our fundamental constitutional citizenship rights.

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  1. #1 by Colonel on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:52 am

    Wearing or not wearing the ‘songkok’ is a freedom of speech issue. No commentators has seen it fit to view it as such.

  2. #2 by malaysiatoday.com on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:58 am

    Kepada sepol,

    1. Orang cina tidak pernah paksa kaum bukan cina pakai pakaian inggeris.

    2. Orang cina macam aku samada mahu pakai ara inggeris, melayu, india, dll adalah hak kebebasan aku. Tapi dipaksa memakai mana-mana pakaian akan ditentang sekeras-kerasnya.

    3. Kebanyakan ibubapa murid-murid cina tidak setuju pengajaran matematik dan sains dalam bahasa inggeris. Si bodoh UMNO yang memaksa polisi ke atas orang cina.

    4. Songkok bukan pakaian rasmi raja-raja. Sila tengok wang kertas kamu, agong pertama kita berpakaian songkok atau tidak?

  3. #3 by disapointed86 on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:12 am

    Godfather, i totally disagree with you..maybe you would be happy to see all your children wearing SONGKOK and someday tudung in future..Moreover we, as a multi racial country, the majority should not force the minority into something which is related to religion in a country.. P/S : Dont complare with other middle-east countries, we should see base on how the Malaysian think..

    Speaking about tolerance between races..Godfather, forcing others to do something is tolerance to you? DOnt talk about “i choose not to attend” or what ok…i believe some of the bloggers explain it well..

    Could the minorities get protection from the courts ? – GodFather

    i believe it will takes you forever?Your expectation for the country is so high as if everything makes so easy for you..To be honest with you…if you’re a prominent person in the country..even if you killed someone..you still may not face death… lets say..the case of ALTANTUYA…it will never end… you ever imagine what if the accuse(Razak Baginda) in this case is a normal person..? Even the Mongolia GOvt. start to question the efficiency of our Gov..

    There are countless others who are willing to do so because they are not offended by it.- Godfather

    This is just what you think..even in this blog most of us are against that “SONGKOK TO BE MADE COMPULSARY”..nevertheless if you dont want to stand up for yourself, please think about the better future for your children…

  4. #4 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:12 am

    AhPek – well said. :)

  5. #5 by sebol on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:39 am

    >Sebol is another numbskulls.

    >Maybe abt time the chinese schools enforce a ruliong for all chinese girls to
    >start wearing cheongsam now. And i know ltos of malay students studying
    >in chinese schools now.

    >HOW ABT THAT?

    Di dalam komen saya yang pertama di atas sekali, saya tidakpun menyokong pemaksaan pemakaian songkok, cuba saya persoalkan, kenapa apabila pelajar dipaksa memakai tali leher, tidak dipersoalkan, akan tetapi apabila songkok, ia dipersoalkan. Mengapa?

    Pakaian barat vs Pakaian timur.
    Tali leher vs Songkok

    Jika Sekolah Cina ingin mengunakan pakaian tradisional, sila mulakan secara berperingkat-peringkat.

    Pelajar perempuan Islam Di Malaysia sebelum 1980an semuanya DIPAKSA memakat skirt. Namun lama kelamaan, baju kurung dan tudung dibolehkan,
    begitu juga seluar pelajar sekolah lelaki, dahulunya seluar pendek kemudia dibolehkan untuk memakai seluar panjang.

    Jadi bagi sekolah Cina, pihak sekolah (atau ahli politik) boleh minta supaya pakaian tradisional cina dibolehkan dipakai di sekolah.

    sebelum itu, lakukan inisiatif sendiri dahulu, sekolah tadika cina buat uniform pakaian tradisional cina. Kena tunjukkan bahawa orang cina betul-betul mahu pertahankan pakaian tradisional.

    Akan tetapi, jika pada tahun baru cina sekalipun pakaian tradisional tidak mahu dipakai oleh orang cina sendiri, sekurang-kurangnya sepanjang hari pada 1 hari, maka lupakan dahulu hasrat nak guna pakaian tradisional di sekolah.

    Bagi pelajar melayu di sekolah cina, pemakaian pakaian tradisional cina disekolah tidak menjadi masalah.
    Akan tetapi, kena wujudkan alternatif kepada pelajar perempuan muslim supaya ada versi pakaian tradisional cina yang membolehkan pelajar menutup aurat.

    sekian.

  6. #6 by disapointed86 on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:51 am

    sebol Says:
    Bagi pelajar melayu di sekolah cina, pemakaian pakaian tradisional cina disekolah tidak menjadi masalah.

    = Tentulah tidak menjadi masalah jika kamu sudi..Jika pelajar melayu belajar di sekolah cina, itu adalah hak mereka untuk belajar di mana sahaja yang mereka suka..

    Masalahnya di sini tempoh hari, Pelajar di Koleh Jb English tersebut “DIWAJIBKAN” memakai songkok?

  7. #7 by kwkean on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:56 am

    malaysiatoday.com Says:

    3. Kebanyakan ibubapa murid-murid cina tidak setuju pengajaran matematik dan sains dalam bahasa inggeris. Si bodoh UMNO yang memaksa polisi ke atas orang cina.

    4. Songkok bukan pakaian rasmi raja-raja. Sila tengok wang kertas kamu, agong pertama kita berpakaian songkok atau tidak?

    ————-

    I actually support Science and Math to be teach in English. Don’t forget in our working life, the main medium we use is English and the Western is still standing high in Science and Math. If you don’t master the English language, you will have a hard time understanding their knowledge. Even China’s scientist need to master English before they can read, translate and teach Western knowledge in their own mother language.

    Try comparing those elders who uses English language as their medium in their school (60s and 70s era) and those who uses Bahasa Malaysia language (90s and onwards), you will get some enlightenment on why our unemployment is so high now.

    Don’t blame the Malay for the songkok case. They have been ‘brain wash’ for so long until they don’t even know where their ancestors came from let alone their very own culture. Songkok is Malay culture??? I wonder if the Malay wear them before Islam come to Tanah Melayu.

  8. #8 by Count Dracula on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 4:32 am

    Enough said about the ‘songkok’. It is time to ‘un-songkok’ the issue and move on.

  9. #9 by kwkean on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 6:02 am

    # Count Dracula Says:
    Today at 04: 32.07 (1 hour ago)

    Enough said about the ’songkok’. It is time to ‘un-songkok’ the issue and move on.

    ———–

    This is an issue that will never end. Election is nearby so that HM will keep his head low as his fear his master, UMNO will kick his @ss because they might lose some vote due to this issue. Once election is over, you will see his true face!

  10. #10 by malaysiatoday.com on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 6:48 am

    I actually support Science and Math to be teach in English. Don’t forget in our working life, the main medium we use is English and the Western is still standing high in Science and Math. If you don’t master the English language, you will have a hard time understanding their knowledge. Even China’s scientist need to master English before they can read, translate and teach Western knowledge in their own mother language.

    Try comparing those elders who uses English language as their medium in their school (60s and 70s era) and those who uses Bahasa Malaysia language (90s and onwards), you will get some enlightenment on why our unemployment is so high now.

    ==========

    Don’t assume those parents against teaching maths and science in english are ignorant about how important english today’s world.

    Japaneses and koreans are very poor in english, but they are not poor in technology and science. To say english is a key to modernization is kinda simplistic conclusion.

    I did send a letter to The Star and Malaysiakini and got published by them on this subject.

    You may want to visit this link for various pros and cons from many

    http://forum.malaysiatoday.com/index.php?s=62dcc3de9349c936835a6872fb21c650&showtopic=483

  11. #11 by malaysiatoday.com on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 6:50 am

    Don’t assume those parents against teaching maths and science in english are ignorant about how important english in today’s world.

    Japaneses and koreans are very poor in english, but they are not poor in technology and science. To say english is a key to modernization is kinda simplistic conclusion.

    I did send a letter to The Star and Malaysiakini and got published by them on this subject.

    You may want to visit this link for various pros and cons from many concerned parents, students, educationists, etc.

    http://forum.malaysiatoday.com/index.php?s=62dcc3de9349c936835a6872fb21c650&showtopic=483

  12. #12 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 8:23 am

    //At the rate you guys are going, no chance. All the DAP will get will be 15 – 20 seats, and probably retaining its position as head of the Opposition….Kit is the one who stands to lose the most out of prolonging this debate.” …. – Godfather.

    There is no point for the DAP, if it has any honour and claim to uphold constitutional rights, to try winning more seats, get a better showing in coming election, on the back of appeasement of an unrighteous policy (even if it is a ‘small’ policy thing like prefect songkok attire in EC); on the back of a rationalization of what is blatantly wrong as something that possibly could either be right or of no big issue, or that intolerance of those who by subtle pressure, require us to adopt their cultural emblem becomes ‘viola’ a reverse intolerance on our part in not having an open mind … all just to maintain, on the eve of election, a not so strong an appearance of abhorrence against racially or religiously biased hegemonic policies and expressions by little Napoleons just to get the other side’s votes traditionally not given to us because we openly resisted racially or religiously biased hegemonic policies and expressions.

    So don’t give lah – if it implies that we have to drive a Faust Bargain like MCA MIC and the rest.

    Just for the sake of their votes and a chance at dislodging the den of thieves, do we pay the price here and now, to twist what is wrong and plainly untenable to become not so bad or small thing? It is this tolerating marginal transgression of rights that in aggregate will end up a significant loss of rightful position until one knows what is one’s own heritage.

    The issue of prefect-songkok may have ended by EC principal’s rescission of that directive – but the issue of attitude and mindset of pathetically bargaining for votes and a little crumbs for power, and turning a blind eye to other’s encroachment of these rights is current and relevant as it is insidious in getting across to some of us in the name of pragmatism, not something that is just a dominant trait amongst those who campaign for the BN component parties.

  13. #13 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 8:25 am

    Typo omission in 2nd last para – “It is this tolerating marginal transgression of rights that in aggregate will end up a significant loss of rightful position until one knows NOT what is one’s own heritage.”

  14. #14 by dranony on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 8:30 am

    Godfather, if one reads your posting “If anyone feels hard done by, he/she can seek a declaration from the courts” one may be misled to think that you are suggesting that JB EC Parent should have sought remedy through the courts of law!

    The main problem here is that of “little napoleons” implementing new rules which are in reality minor transgressions to minority cultures, rules which are NOT even supported by official policy of the government of the day.
    Each little incremental transgression – implemented perhaps because of cultural values and mores (of the moment?) by the dominant group – if NOT confronted or outrage expressed, will become more and more “accepted” as the norm by the dominant group.
    These “little napoleons” may or may not even have realised that their actions or new rules have encroached upon the values and cultures of the minority group, to the extent that the minority feel strongly enough to express outrage, had the issues not been given publicity.
    (The “segregated co-ed” schools is another example.)
    ]
    If such protest or outrage is not given a voice or publicity, the issue may simply be swept under the carpet.
    It is exactly because of the publicity generated through this forum, as well as the outrage expressed, that the HM was jolted into the realisation that the issue is not simply accepted.
    I think we should also thank YB Lim for giving his voice to the issue, without which the issue may not have been given the prominence it deserves, which finally resulted in the resolution of the issue.

    To suggest that JB EC Parent should have sought redress through the court, is naive.

    To suggest that JB EC Parent simply accept the matter, is insensitive, and does not address the principle of mutual respect and mutual understanding, which our multiracial and multicultural society should uphold.

  15. #15 by Godfather on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 10:22 am

    You guys should read through all my postings again lest you start jumping into conclusions about my position on this matter.

    Firstly, my belief is that equating the action of one little Napolean (only the advisor to the prefectorial board) to a decree or edict that non-Muslims should do this or that (including circumcision or forced conversion) is nothing short of paranoia. Some of you say that the road to marginalisation starts with little steps and I accept that. What I think are ridiculous are the comments of “what if we wear the songkok and do all the things that are anti-Islam” or “make the cheongsam the uniform for the Chinese schools”.

    Second, when I say that the prefect in question has a choice, I mean that he has a choice not to be prefect, and give his position to another who doesn’t have the same constraint. Someone suggested at the top of this thread that he should watch his back from now on, for he is a “marked” man, but I think that is also paranoia. If he is victimised going forward, he can complain to the authorities, ask for a transfer to another school, or go to a private school. I wasn’t talking about the really drastic step of leaving the country – even though that this is an option to some, it is not generally an option to many.

    Lastly, I never suggested that the JB EC parent should seek redress through the courts. In fact I suggested that with the corruption of the judiciary, getting a fair judgement is probably next to impossible. I also said that the courts are the final arbiters of our rights, and that regime change is the only way we can reverse the rot of the judiciary so that our rights can be upheld without fear or favour.

    You want regime change – you abandon your narrow, chauvinistic views, and work with the growing middle class Malays who are also mindful that corruption in the judiciary, the AG’s Chambers, the Police, and the ACA will drag the country into oblivion. Don’t make sweeping statements like “over my dead body will I wear a songkok” or “they will seek forced circumcision or forced conversion next”.

  16. #16 by Godfather on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 10:24 am

    You can’t propose a middle ground to work with all races – you will all be nothing but mere barking dogs.

  17. #17 by dranony on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 11:04 am

    Godfather,
    You ask that we read through your posts.
    After reading through your posts, I noticed that you have AVOIDED to reply to a SPECIFIC question of mine, ie
    “If there is a directive that non-Muslim policewomen must wear the tudung during official parades and ceremonies, what would you advise the policewomen? Refuse to attend the official ceremonies?
    But what if it is compulsory to attend the ceremonies?
    Go for MC? Resign?
    Refuse to sign up as policewomen in the first place?”

    This was in followup to your advice:
    Godfather said on Tues 15 Jan 2008 at 17:41.11:
    “For every one of you who believe that the wearing of the songkok at official functions is wrong (or a gradual erosion of your rights) then don’t go for the official functions. Don’t be a prefect. Don’t be a datuk. There are countless others who are willing to do so because they are not offended by it.”

  18. #18 by Godfather on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:01 pm

    Dranony:

    When a person signs up for the police force, I’m almost certain that there will be tons of paperwork to fill, amongst which will be the declaration that the candidate must follow all procedures and practices in force from time to time. As you point out, the wearing of the headscarf was made compulsory for official ceremonies in 2006. If you joined post 2006, it must be assumed that the candidate is happy to wear the headscarf at official ceremonies (or else why waste everybody’s time?). If you joined prior to 2006, and this edict offends your principle, you can ask for a transfer within the civil service, you can quit and join the private sector, or you can leave the country and join the Singapore police force.

    These options are all open to you. If you feel really really strongly that the 2006 edict violates your constitutional rights, then get Karpal Singh to help you file a motion in the courts.

    I’m sure many non-Malays are put off by this edict, but I am also willing to bet my bottom dollar that there are non-Malays out there who have joined the police force since 2006. I won’t discourage that because each person is entitled to his own opinion.

  19. #19 by dranony on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:39 pm

    Can someone tell us the figures of how many non-Muslim have joined the police force since 2006, as compared to before?

    Godfather, I will progressively ask of your response to situations where such compulsions are being implemented in a creeping fashion to erode rights and values and culture of the minorities, to see if your advice of simple “appeasement” (accept it or run away) will continue to stand in the face of continued encroachments.
    Please do not run away from answering them.

    Did you say that schools will not allow compulsive wearing of the tudung since education is a right?

    Godfather, what now of Universities which do the same ie insist on wearing of the tudung? At first for ceremonies, then later in more and more areas.
    Do you agree that there is the possibility that once this is “accepted” as “the norm” in varsities, that this will soon creep into secondary schools, as part of some “new rule” implemented by some “little osama?”

    If “baca doa” can be implemented in a school with only 10% muslim students, can the tudung be compelled in a school with 90% muslim students?
    Will you also then ask the students who refuse to wear the tudung to go and seek another school which does not impose such a rule?

    Now, coming back to my argument of of mutual understanding and mutual respect and respectful reciprocity, how do you think muslims would feel if a principal in a school with non-muslim majority, implements a rule which disallows wearing of the tudung in a school science laboratories, as well as compels female students to roll up their sleeves until their elbows, all these in the name of laboratory safety?
    (bunsen burners and chemicals and biological hazards being possible sources of danger)

    And if the students and parents object, will you then, in a reciprocal manner, also ask the students and parents to transfer the student to a school which does not enforce such a rule?

  20. #20 by needtospeak on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:54 pm

    Sebol says:

    1:”Pakaian barat vs Pakaian timur.
    Tali leher vs Songkok”

    2:”Pelajar perempuan Islam Di Malaysia sebelum 1980an semuanya DIPAKSA memakat skirt. Namun lama kelamaan, baju kurung dan tudung dibolehkan,
    begitu juga seluar pelajar sekolah lelaki, dahulunya seluar pendek kemudia dibolehkan untuk memakai seluar panjang.”

    3:”sebelum itu, lakukan inisiatif sendiri dahulu, sekolah tadika cina buat uniform pakaian tradisional cina. Kena tunjukkan bahawa orang cina betul-betul mahu pertahankan pakaian tradisional.”

    4:”Akan tetapi, jika pada tahun baru cina sekalipun pakaian tradisional tidak mahu dipakai oleh orang cina sendiri, sekurang-kurangnya sepanjang hari pada 1 hari, maka lupakan dahulu hasrat nak guna pakaian tradisional di sekolah.”
    =======

    Walaupun tali leher itu diwajibkan, setahu saya tiada siapa yang membangkang. Jika ada sesiapa yang membangkang, pasti pihak kementerian akan mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya.

    Adakah betul mereka dipaksa atau pada masa itu kaum Islam tidak begitu mementingkan penutupan aurat?
    Semasa saya di sekolah dahulu, kesemua pelajar perempuan memakai baju kurung tanpa tudung. Tetapi lama kelamaan dengan pengajaran agama Islam yang lebih mendalam seorang demi seorang telah mula mamakai tudung. Setahu saya, di sekolah anak saya, pemakaian tudung itu diwajibkan untuk penuntut beragama Islam. Walaupun ada segelintir yang tidak suka memakainya, namun tiada siapa yang menentang arahan tersebut. Itu juga merupakan hak kebebasan individu mereka.

    Perkara “songkok” ini dibangkitkan bukan kerana kaum Cina ingin mempertahankan pakaian tradisional tetapi
    kerana kaum lain DIPAKSA memakai songkok yang kebiasaannya hanya dipakai oleh kaum Melayu yang beragama Islam. Saya harap saudara tidak persamakan kedua-dua perkara tersebut.

    Seandainya pakaian tradisional dijadikan pakaian seragam di sekolah cina, saya percaya bahawa kaum lain di sekolah tersebut juga akan membantah. Walaupun saudara mengatakan bahawa ini “tidak menjadi masalah”,tetapi saya percaya ini bukan pemikiran kesemua ibubapa yang lain termasuk kaum bukan Islam yang lain. Ini hanya pendapat saudara seorang.

    Seperti yang dinyatakan oleh penulis yang lain, ini adalah tentang hak kebebasan dan pemaksaan adat istiadat dan pegangan sesuatu kaum keatas kaum yang lain. Seperti juga orang Islam tidak boleh dipaksa memakai apa-apa pakaian atau aksesori yang membawa lambang salib dan lain-lain yang tidak berunsur Islam, begitu juga kaum agama lain tidak patut dipaksa memakai apa-apa yang dianggap bertentangan dengan pegangan mereka. Adakah itu menasabah?

  21. #21 by burn on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 12:56 pm

    hi sebol… i like what you have type. and sorry for others that like calling names.

    memakai songkok tu memang takdo masa’alah untuk aku. dah menjadi kebiasaan aku, lagi lagi tinggal kat kem garrison. ada pihak akan membantah, ada yang tidak. mungkin sebabnya satu…
    untuk ku, songkok tu melambangkan budaya pakaian melayu. untuk kaum kaum lain di paksa memakainya agak sukar diterima. adakah dengan memakainya, akan memberi mereka hak yang sama seperti bumiputra. kalaulah songkok tu dijadikan sebagai salah satu pakaian tradisi malaysia, mungkin ramai akan setuju, pabila mereka diterima sebagai satu bangsa, malaysian, yang mempunyai hak sama rata tanpa status.

  22. #22 by needtospeak on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:25 pm

    Burn:
    Sure. That is your prerogative. Just as there were those who did wear the songkok in JB EC. However, since the ruling has been changed, all but one non-muslim prefect are not wearing it. Just goes to show that the others were also not so inclined toward wearing it but not willing to stick their necks out.

  23. #23 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:35 pm

    “However, since the ruling has been changed, all but one non-muslim prefect are not wearing it” -needtospeak .

    Hi Kanasaikia, “a prefect in EC currently” according to you, you are not that one non-muslim prefect still wearing the songkok (after ruling has been changed) for the sake of principles? :)

  24. #24 by Toyol on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 1:51 pm

    Little Napoleons run riot because the PM is not interested in running the country anymore. As long as his down line do not disturb his slumber party, they are free to make do on their own. So no action on his part in fighting corruption, uniting the races etc.

  25. #25 by EddieTheHead on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 3:04 pm

    Must wear songkok la. Must sit another table la while eating. Must not talk to boys la. Must “Doa” la. Must this la, must that la.

    When la you morons going to study?

  26. #26 by Luther on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 3:10 pm

    pemakaian apa juga pakaian memang tidak menjadi masalah tetapi cara masyarakat kita terutama sebahagian kawan Melayu kita di luar sana mesti dan selalu mengagamakan dan memelayukan benda benda yang dipratik oleh mereka sebagai Islamic dan ini menjadi pemasalah yang paling kronik dalam kontek masyarakat berbilang bangsa dan agama,lihatlah ahli politik umno dalam membuat ucapan ,mereka sering kata demi bangsa dan agama,bangsa apa dan agama apa? tolong sebut degan betul dan jelas loh.kalau kita mahu perpaduan kaum di Malaysia maka ahli politik umno mesti jelaskan apa itu demi bangsa dan agama,seharusnya demi Tuhan mereka patut sebut demi bangsa-bangsa atau bangsa malaysia sekurang-kurangnya kalau mereka mahu kita semua cintai negara,dan tentang agama mesti sebut agama-agama barulah mereka ada hakasasi untuk membicara mengenai perpaduan kaum , kalau tidak mereka hanya mengguna agama dan sentimen perkauman untuk mencari keuntungan politik dan sebagainya,agama tidak memilih siapa akan lebih suci tetapi iman kita, saya adalah non muslim kalau tak bisa pakai “iman” maka kita tukar kepada kelakuan baik terhadap Tuhan,saya rasa Tuhan saya ada hak untuk pakai kerna bukan muslim saja ada Tuhan,terlalu banyak mau tulis malaslah, pendek kata jangan memelayukan Islam. hanya di Malaysia Islam itu adalah Melayu atau Melayu itu adalah Islam , di bahagian dunia lain Islam itu adalah agama bukan perkauman!jadi jangan campuradukkan kaum dan agama,saya diberitahu non muslim tidak boleh baca Al quran,kenapa?sebol boleh bicara sikit?

  27. #27 by malaysiatoday.com on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 5:08 pm

    Godfahter is just talking nonsense. He is lacking fundamental understanding on mutual respect in society.

    He will tell his son, if you dislike your dad, go commit suicide. This is his mindset, don’t wasting your time to argue with a bigot.

  28. #28 by burn on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 6:20 pm

    during my father days as an army officer, he wear either a songkok or something like a hat softtop use by the british everyday while working. i have seen other races too wear songkok. be it indians, kadazans, ibans or gurkhas. so to me, it’s not a big issue as long as you don’t tie it with ugama. my father is a strong believer in buddhism.
    but when segregrating boys and girls, they might as well change to all boys school or all girls school instead!

  29. #29 by Godfather on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 7:19 pm

    malaysiatoday.com:

    Do you even understand what the term “mutual respect” means ? Do you regard yourself as a staunch DAP or Opposition supporter ?

  30. #30 by burn on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 8:12 pm

    I actually support Science and Math to be teach in English. Don’t forget in our working life, the main medium we use is English and the Western is still standing high in Science and Math. If you don’t master the English language, you will have a hard time understanding their knowledge… kwkean Says

    russian built their own technology!
    japs built their own technology!
    israel built theirs too, so as italians, frenchs, germans, koreans, china, taiwanese and few other countries. most are recognised thru the whole world! and did not use english.
    are we malaysian at heart! bahasa is our national language and we should treasure and support it. even thought it’s only use in malaysia. if others can do it, why not us! looking down at bahasa, means looking down at your own country!

  31. #31 by kaybeegee on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 - 11:56 pm

    Songkok maker. According to the Mufti of Perlis the songkok came from India. What are you talking about India being a Muslim country? Okay according to some of you the songkok is not a religious symbol, neither the Baju Melayu. And bahasa Melayu is for all.
    Can you imagine non Muslims wearing Baju Melayu, songkok andspeaking Bahasa Melayu in Church, temples and synagogues and gurdwaras? The natives of Sabah and Sarawak can do all three after all they are classified as under the Malay race? So when that happens than UMNO will have to rethink and ban wearing of songkok other than at places allowed by UMNO.

  32. #32 by Penang_kia on Thursday, 17 January 2008 - 12:17 am

    songkok is actually for muslim only..don’t force us like non-muslim to wear this…….

  33. #33 by Count Dracula on Thursday, 17 January 2008 - 3:31 am

    Welcome to ‘songkok’ country!

  34. #34 by ChinNA on Thursday, 17 January 2008 - 6:22 am

    Sebol obviously raised some good points about following the west.

    However, the way I see it, the issue is about ‘freedom of choice’. Given the conditions and today’s environment, a simple directive had triggered a specific response.

    Perhaps in another time, in different circumstances, the response could have been different.

    Taking that them of different time and different circumstance, the western way of ‘business attire’ dressing had now become an accepted international standard. Whether we like it or not. The world had adopted it.

    What then is left for us to do? We still have the right to choose.

    Our choice is that to decide if we want to follow that standard or not to follow that standard. Is it right? Is it wrong? From a cultural identify, it is not right.

    But then, cultural expectations is an evolution. Remember what happened to the pigtails hair for Chinese?

    Similarly we see today the Malay standard is evolving too. There are more Middle East dressing being adopted. Is it right? That is is not important. The segment of the Malay society had made a choice.

    The freedom to choose must be presented and honoured as long as it does not voilate the liberties of another person.

  35. #35 by ChinNA on Thursday, 17 January 2008 - 6:35 am

    Sebol, it is interesting that you mentioned about Baba.

    There different groups of Baba. I have seen the ones from the north and the south. There are differences.

    Baba does not dress in all-Malay dresses, Baba does not eat only Malay food. Not all Baba speaks only Malay.

    The Baba way of life is a combination of elements from the Malay and southern Chinese cultures.

    In fact, a lot of Baba speaks Chinese with some Malay words.

    You are right in saying that Babas are not Malays. We will never be.

  36. #36 by Earshot on Thursday, 17 January 2008 - 5:34 pm

    This is in response to sebol’s comments:-
    “It’s not hard to say, “Maaf encik, saya bukan Islam”. something similar happened to Baba community who speak like Malay, look like Malay but not muslim.”

    and ChinNA’s comments:-
    “You are right in saying that Babas are not Malays. We will never be.”

    While sebol is right in pointing out that saying “Maaf encik, saya bukan Islam” can easily extricate oneself from those awkward situations there is certainly no basis for him to claim “something similar happened to Baba community who speak like Malay, look like Malay but not muslim”. Some Babas, though very very few, may look like Malay but it is gross generalisation to say that Baba community look like Malay. In fact, 99% if not more of people of Baba descent look Chinese and they definitely do not look like Malay and for heaven’s sake they are non-Muslims. Many Babas speak Malay, but so do many many more non-Baba Chinese.

    Many writers and historians have traced the roots of the Babas and concluded that the hint of their possible Malay ancestry can only be attributed to the sparing instances of such inter-marriages. In his book ‘A Baba Wedding’ by Cheo Kim Ban the author highlighted the very Chinese nature of the Babas as such

    “The Babas therefore are Chinese of mainly Hokkien origin descended from the inter-marriage of early Malacca Chinese with local non-Muslim women of various races e.g Balinese, Bataks of Sumatra and Malacca Chitty, with their Chinese blood further reinforced by marriage with Chinese immigrants who came in the
    latter half of the 19th century. …… They no longer spoke the dialect of their ancestors but a language of their own known as Baba Malay.” This Baba Malay would not even be properly understood by the Malays because it is different.

    So this is a reinforcement of what ChinNA said ‘You are right in saying that Babas are not Malays. We will never be.’ Right it is, We will never be.

    By the way ChinNA, I like the way you spell your handle and not ‘CinNA’ like many of the erroneously spelt words relating to Chinese are spelt in Malaysia. A name is a name, so let the word ‘China’ be it and NOT ‘Cina’. If such a spelling standard is to be maintained then they should rename what used to be Weld Rd in KL to Jln Raja Culan.

  37. #37 by ChinNA on Friday, 18 January 2008 - 3:24 pm

    Earshot, thanks for endorsement.

    these are the reasons for my name.
    Chin is my surname and NA is the abbrevation.

    thus you get ChinNA

    (note it is easy to mistakenly see it as ChiNA. it is not. It is Chin + NA).

  38. #38 by kaybeegee on Saturday, 19 January 2008 - 10:55 am

    Cheo Kim Ban in the book a Nyonya Wedding probably got it wrong. The Chinese men who were in Malacca those hundreds of years ago not only married Balinese or other Indonesian migrant women they also married local Muslim Malay women.
    I have always wondered how accurate the information in books written by authors like Cheo Kim Ban.
    Can somebody tell me what was Hang Li Poh’s muslim name?
    Now to the the Big Teachers of all Government schools, try not to worry about what your students have on their heads, worry about what they have in between their ears.

  39. #39 by Earshot on Saturday, 19 January 2008 - 3:03 pm

    ChinNA, I did observe the way you spelt your handle and thought that it had to do with your surname.

    But I was contrasting the way you spelt to the ridiculously mispelt names referring to anything ‘China’ or ‘Chinese’ as widely practised by certain overzealous groups in Malaysia.

  40. #40 by Shark on Thursday, 26 June 2008 - 5:23 pm

    Hey, leave my Headmaster out of it. We (technicaly speaking) disagreed.End of story.

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