IN MASTERLY PUT-DOWN, MCA CALLS OUT 'LITTLE NAPOLEONS' SPRINGING UP IN ANWAR'S GOVT - "IS IT NOW THE OFFICIAL POSITION THAT CIVIL SERVANTS ARE TO 'TEST & REVIEW' THE BM SKILLS (BOTH WRITTEN & SPOKEN) OF THE PUBLIC INCLUDING FOREIGNERS?"

Written by Saw Yee Fung

KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - JPJ not examiner to appraise Malay language proficiency: Govt must weed out Little Napoleons.

A recent episode involving non-Malay speaking foreigners being instructed by Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers to communicate in Bahasa Melayu (BM) when the former arrived to renew their driving licences is regrettable and warrants repudiation. These actions indicate that under the so-called Unity Government, “Little Napoleons” have sprung up. Such unhealthy practices are growing increasingly serious, and Putrajaya must take a clear stance to contain its spread.

MCA Youth respects and upholds Bahasa Melayu as the national language of our country. However JPJ, as a major agency under the Ministry of Transport (MoT), is responsible for providing over-the-counter services to motor vehicle owners. JPJ is not an examining board to test and appraise the BM proficiency of members of the public.

A typical driving licence holder, including non-Malaysians, would usually go to a JPJ branch to renew their licences. Why do JPJ officers make it a requirement for their clients to have BM skills? Does the Unity Government intend to turn every JPJ counter into an SPM BM examination room? Or, does the MoT assume that communicating in BM is mandatory to drive a vehicle? Really, what are the JPJ officers up to? Are they government officers or examiners of the SPM BM subject?

Is it now the official position of the Unity Government that civil servants are to “test and review” the Malay language skills (both written and spoken) of the public including foreigners, or, is this the position of a select number of “Little Napoleon” civil servants?

If it is not the government’s position, then why has the government repeatedly allowed these “Little Napoleons” to run wild without curbs placed on them, thereby giving a green light for this trend to spread continuously.

Be it the previous controversy over dress codes at government buildings, or the issue of concert guidelines at universities, the government appears oblivious. So far, there does not seem to be any clear guidelines as to which factors are considered a “violation”. “Comply with the guidelines” lest law enforcement officials enforce them and issue summonses. It is confusing nowadays that when one visits any government department to renew documents, the civil servants would require a conversational BM qualification. 

It is therefore necessary for the government to take a clear stance to avoid similar incidents. Is it now compulsory for the public to communicate in BM at government agencies when handling matters or documentation?

Simultaneously, the Unity Government also needs to provide an effective platform for the public to lodge complaints so that the rakyat have a channel to raise their grievances against “Little Napoleons.” Otherwise, some civil servants may simply cook up any justification to make matters bureaucratic for the public over and over again, thereby tarnishing the reputation of the Malaysia Madani Unity Government.

Written by Saw Yee Fung, MCA National Youth Secretary General

Politics Now!