theSun | WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26 2008 3

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Language without knowledge INTERVIEWS VIEWS

not enough, says Mahathir

by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: The use of English to teach science
and maths is more than just about fluency in Bahasa
Malaysia, former prime minister
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
said yesterday.
“I am not interested in
just acquiring fluency in Ma-
lay. If we have all the Malay
people able to speak Ma-
lay very well, but have no
knowledge of science and
maths, then I think we are
not going to be a very good
nation” said Mahathir.
“I do not want the people
to speak a language but have
no knowledge,” he told news-
men after delivering the
keynote speech at Eng-
lish and Asia 2008 – a
conference on English
and linguistics organ-
ised by International Islamic University Malaysia.
He said that while there were scientific papers
published in Bahasa Malaysia the majority of research
was being published in English.
“Admittedly there is some knowledge coming to us
in our own language but I notice the amount of new
knowledge coming out of researchers today is fast and
furious, and there is no time for us to translate them.
“The only way we can get to them is through the
language in which the papers were published,” he said,
adding that he does not want to see Malaysians “un-
able to cope with the new sciences coming out”.
Mahathir said he had not spoken on the issue until
recently as he did not wish to be seen ‘as a pseudo
English nationalist’.
Asked what action he would be taking with regard
to the issue, Mahathir said that he was not in a position
to make decisions on this matter, “unless you re-elect
me as prime minister.”
Meanwhile, when asked as to when he would
release his list of Umno members involved in money
politics, as he had earlier announced, Mahathir said he
was still in the process of gathering evidence.
“I have to be sure before I put up the list,” said
Mahathir adding that he will only release the list if the
Umno disciplinary board does not take any action.
“We give the disciplinary board two weeks, I hope
they will act within two weeks,” said Mahathir, who did
not deny that money politics was in existence when he
headed Umno. “There was corruption during my time
and I have always admitted that there was corruption
but not on the scale that you are seeing now.”
On the National Fatwa Council’s decision to bar
Muslims from practising yoga, he urged the relevant
parties not to turn it into a religious issue.
“If they (National Fatwa Council) believe it is wrong,
then it is wrong. It is unfortunate that other people
think that it is a slur on their religion. It is like saying
Muslims should not eat pork, and it is not an insult to
the Chinese. It is the same when Muslims cannot do Controversial artist
yoga. It is not because they are insulting the Hindus. Rahmat Haron believes
“It is just that they should not do it. Whether the Malays the scariest thing in life is
follow it or not, that is really their business. Other people the death of imagination
should not make it a religious issue. Like all other things
forbidden among Muslims, it is not an insult to others. and thinks this country is
“But people want to make an issue of this. I feel suffering from it.
very sorry. Personally, I don’t care very much if you In Conversations
stand on your head or stand on your feet. It is not as tomorrow he tells Husna
if by performing yoga you immediately become a non-
Muslim,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying. Yusop why.

Police: We are not against freedom of speech

Consider by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
He cited the case of the anti-Internal Security
Act gathering in Petaling Jaya where the group
“It may appear so because we seem to be
detaining Pakatan Rakyat members. But why
dispersed soon after being told to do so for the is that happening? Simply because they defy
yoga ruling PETALING JAYA: Police yesterday defended
themselves against accusation of selective
first three weekends they got together and none
were detained. But in the fourth week, they defied
orders and they do not disperse even when
repeatedly told to do so. When BN parties such

carefully: persecution, saying that they are not against

Raja Nazrin
KUALA LUMPUR: The Raja Muda of
Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, has asked
the Perak State Fatwa Committee
to consider very carefully the ruling
on yoga for Muslims.
Raja Nazrin, who also heads the
Perak Islamic Religious and Malay
Customs Council (MAIAMP), said
any decision made by the commit-
tee on the matter would be brought
to MAIAMP before being presented
to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan
Shah, for consent.
In a statement issued by the
Datuk Pengelola Bijaya diRaja,
Datuk Samsul Baharin Hassan, here
yesterday, the Raja Muda also said it
would be more appropriate for any
fatwa (edict) on a public matter be
brought to the Conference of Malay
Rulers first as Islamic religious mat-
ters come under the jurisdiction of
the Malay Rulers.
“This is in line with the pro-
cedures in the Islamic Religious
Administration Enactment (Perak)
2004 concerning the adoption of
fatwa,” Raja Nazrin Shah said.
Last Saturday, the National Fatwa
Council ruled that the systematic
practice of yoga is “haram” (forbid-
den) for Muslims as it contains ele-
ments of Hinduism, and therefore
contrary to Islamic teachings.
Raja Nazrin’s view that a fatwa
on a public matter should first be
brought to the Conference of Rul-
ers is similar to that of the Sultan
of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris
Shah on Monday, who had said such
a move would avoid controversy and
confusion.
theSun had reported yesterday
that the implementation of the fatwa
on yoga and tomboys announced
by the National Fatwa Council is on
hold pending the approval of the
Conference of Rulers. A source had
said some Malay rulers were not
pleased with the edicts as they were
not consulted, as required.
freedom of speech as enshrined in the Federal
orders and kept regrouping, forcing police to act.
Khalid said police do not allow open air
Constitution but are concerned about the safety gatherings for reasons of safety, preferring
as Umno carry out these protests, we act too but
when they are told to disperse, they listen.
“Have the police not given such warnings to
of the public.
Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid
instead an enclosed area like a hall.
“Say a group is against the ISA and decides
Pakatan gatherings? We do all the time but it is
ignored. We are able to manage such protests
Abu Bakar refuted the Bar Council’s claim on to hold a mass protest. What if another pro-ISA done by BN members without having to resort
Monday that they practised double standards group gets riled up and a confrontation takes to detaining anyone but when Pakatan Rakyat
as seen in the way they handled two different place between the two and things get ugly, does it, it gets out of hand simply because they
illegal gatherings on Sunday. who is answerable for the safety of innocent do not show respect for the law.”
“I will keep it simple. When our orders to bystanders. Those who were not involved may He said police issued permits for the anti-ISA
disperse fall on deaf ears and are not adhered to, get hurt and then who is to be blamed? The gatherings in PJ for the past two weekends
we will move in and act. That is when we may police? Policing is also about prevention, that is because they finally agreed to do so within an
carry out arrests. What then are we expected to why we do not want to wait until things get out enclosed area at the Civic Centre.
do? Stand and watch? We are law enforcers and of hand,” he said. He also clarified he had agreed to allow the
when we act, it is within the parameters of the He wondered why those who hold protests burning of candles at the vigil strictly for 15
law. We will appear silly to the rest of society if choose to do so in open public areas. minutes only on the request of Selangor Mentri
we do not act. Asked if police had given more leeway to Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and this was only
“The protesters must remember that not Barisan Nasional parties in allowing them to hold for that particular vigil and was not applicable to
everybody share their emotions, opinions and gatherings and were more picky with Pakatan every other gathering.
beliefs and the rights of others must also be Rakyat component parties, Khalid
respected. The police have a duty to make sure objected strongly
this right of the rest of society is upheld,” he said. to such a notion,
Khalid said if the protesters disperse on
order, there will be no issues.
saying police are
apolitical. Court to rule on Friday if it
can hear Raja Petra case
12,000 expected KUALA LUMPUR: The sessions
court will decide on Friday whether
filing the motion in the High Court.
However, Fernandis told the
at PKR congress it has jurisdiction to hear the case
of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin
court he was ready to continue
with his submission on issues
PETALING JAYA: Parti 1,200 qualified observers will who faces three charges of defa- raised by Manjeet on Monday.
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) expects witness the proceedings. mation in a statutory declaration, He argued that the sessions
a mammoth crowd of more “There is overwhelming After hearing arguments from court has the jurisdiction to hear
than 12,000 at the Melawati support from PKR members Raja Petra’s lawyer Manjeet Singh the case based on a letter by the
indoor stadium in Shah Alam and the public for the congress Dhillon and DPP Anselm Fernandis High Court dated Sept 11, 2008,
on Saturday to listen to speeches and we expect the stadium to yesterday, Judge Datuk Mohamad stating that the defence had filed a
from key party leaders, including be filled to the brim when the Sekeri Mamat said he will make revision on the transfer of the case
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in leaders take to the stage,” he known his decision on Nov 28. by the magistrate.
conjunction with the party’s said. Earlier, Manjeet submitted The content of the letter stated
national congress this weekend. “In terms of economic that he had studied further on the that the magistrate made an order
PKR secretary-general Datuk issues, we have a lot to work transfer issue. in line with the principle of the law
Salehuddin Hashim said the on as the international crisis “The sessions court on applica- and the judge decided not to revise
leaders will speak on PKR’s will inevitably affect Malaysia tion of its own motion can transfer the magistrate’s order.
reform agendas, especially in the to a certain extent and the first any proceedings to another court Fernandis said based on the
current economic climate, to suffer will be the working (of coordinate jurisdiction),” said letter and previous cases in higher
“In this year’s congress, we class. Manjeet. courts, the sessions court has the
will be focusing on issues that “We want the Malaysian Manjeet said he had thus filed jurisdiction to hear the case.
specifically affect the people of education system to make our a notice of motion at the High Manjeet, however, argued that
Malaysia,” said Salehuddin. students employable and not Court Registry yesterday morning, in that letter, the issue raised was
“The issues include the ‘just wave a certificate’.” asking for an order from the court on the magistrate’s jurisdiction to
national education system and Salehuddin added that more to transfer the case back to the transfer the case under Section
the current global meltdown,” than 70 motions were passed magistrate or refer the case to the 177 of the Criminal Procedure
he said. without debate at the party Federal Court on the constitutional Code while the issue on Article 8
Salehuddin said 1,900 branch levels and this will be issue. (1) of the Federal Constitution (all
delegates from 180 divisions all the first time PKR’s national He asked the sessions court to persons are equal before the law)
over Malaysia will attend the congress will be held on such a postpone the case in view of his was not raised.
two-day congress and another grand scale.