For archive.

Malay taught as foreign language may halt decline in fluency 
Daryl Chin 
The Straits Times 
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 

Teaching Malay as a foreign language rather than a mother tongue could be one way to halt the decline in fluency among the community, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said yesterday. 

He said this suggestion might apply to Malays who grow up in an entirely English-speaking environment. 

Dr Yaacob was addressing more than 200 Malay-Muslim pre-university students gathered at a theatre in Ang Mo Kio for a dialogue session aimed at sharing ideas to benefit the Malay-Muslim community. The other panellist was Madam Moliah Hashim, chief executive of self-help group Mendaki. 

Innova Junior College student Ahmad Muslim, 17, asked what could be done about the decline in Malay fluency among the community. Dr Yaacob said everyone in the community has a role to play in keeping the language vibrant, but the challenge lies in keeping it relevant to the younger generation. 

He added: ‘We are not in Kelantan or Kedah, where everyone speaks Malay in and out of the classrooms… it may be timely for us to teach Malay as a foreign language rather than as a mother tongue.’ 

The student also asked if the tide of foreign talent might eventually replace local workers. Madam Moliah said a change in perception was needed: ‘Instead of thinking of how you are going to compete with local and foreign talents for the job, reimagine that you are also a world competitor… that you can become a foreign talent yourself elsewhere.’ 

At the end of the session, which lasted for more than an hour, Dr Yaacob said: ‘I’m pleasantly surprised by their desire to do more with the community. I’m glad about the outcome but I think we need to do more work in terms of outreach.’ 

At least two more forums are planned for later this year, aimed at getting feedback from young Malay-Muslims. From the pool of ideas, Mendaki will allocate an initial $50,000 to pilot 10 promising projects.

Jika langit mampu berbicara

Jika langit mampu berbicara
Apakah yang mahu engkau dengar?
Dunia dimamah usia
Bahang cuaca penyakit haba
Raja Siam turun takhta
Pending Sultan ditebus harta
Gempa meletus tsunami tiba
Yang indah-indah sahaja?
Atau yang indah khabar dari rupa?

Siti Zalinah
Changi Road, Singapura
Khamis, 27 Mei 2010, 10:30 pagi

Sang Singa Purba's Sinopsis II

I'm happy when I'm with them.
Good job, juniors!

It's nearly 3am and I still can't sleep :(

Capturing moments through my lens.
Pictures taken at Arab Street. Enjoy!



Here...birdie, birdie...!



It's a sign... There's no more Istana. No more Sultan.



Law of gravity: What goes up, will come down...



Lizards for sale



Gate to Istana: I see globalisation ~ See! There's even a bank!

Re-visiting my love for Malay poetry

Muntah

Dongeng yang indah
Tersepit terselit di celah-celah
Berbaris-baris ayat Mahadewa
Mencerna biasan gurindam semalam
Yang bertakung membuka pekung
Berpukat-pukat menabung cerita
Membuak-buak lahar derita

Siti Zalinah
Woodlands, Singapura
Khamis, 19 Mac 2009, 1:21 petang


butapekakbisu

kalauyangbutadapatmelihat
tentusekalidiainginmelihatmatahari
kilauanmembongkarsilam
yangmenerangikelamsuram

kalauyangpekakdapatmendengar
tentusekalidiainginmendengarirama
pujipujianmenjunjungarrahman
yangmendendanghalwakealpaan

kalauyangbisudapatberbicara
tentusekalidiainginberbicaracinta
mengagungsaktimerawatjiwa
yangkosongmendedahkecewa

Siti Zalinah
Woodlands, Singapura
Selasa, 2 Disember 2008, 3:38 pagi


Hutang Bicara

Keluh kesah resah
Pendam hati didih
Kisah lapuk dijeruk terperuk
Tangan menadah
Liur diludah
Bangsa berubah
Tanah dijajah
Sejuta datang, sejuta pergi...
PUI!!!

BUKA!!!
Buka hati.
Buka mata.
Buka telinga.
Buka minda.
Buka lubang segala lubang.
Buka deria segala.

Buka mulut jangan lupa!
Biar nganga masuk lalat!
Jangan sampai lidah karat!
Jangan jasad diperalat!

Dongeng apakah ini?

Mati kelar tangan.
Mati jatuh bumbung.
Mati gantung diri.
Mati jual badan.
Mati hisap dadah.
Mati akal.
Mati juang.
Mati impian.
Mati. Mati.
Mati gemuk!

Yang bijak, dipujuk rayu.
Yang bijak, disuap nasi.
Yang bijak, diberi visa.
Yang bijak, diberi biasiswa.
Yang bijak, disuruh berjasa.
Yang bijak, disuruh bekerja sampai habis bon!

Yang bijak sahaja!
Diperah keringatnya
Disedut ilmunya
Diberi liputan meluas
Disayang
Dimanja

Yang bodoh,
Yang bebal,
Yang bengap,
Yang jimbam,
Yang bahalul...

Tangan dalam saku
Mulut jadi bisu
Otak mati kutu
Mati jadi abu
Jasa jadi debu

Sedarlah…
Tiada apa yang percuma.

Walau hitam rambutmu
Walau sepet matamu
Walau kuning kulitmu

Tiada apa yang percuma
Tiada apa yang percuma...

Siti Zalinah
Woodlands, Singapura
Isnin, 9 Mac 2009, 2:56 pagi