Why the big fuss over Mary not knowing Mandarin?

Sarala Poobalan, The Star

I CANNOT understand the fuss created by the Dong Zong group with regards to Datuk Mary Yap’s inability to converse in Mandarin. My question to the Dong Zong group is – So what?

They have communicated with the Prime Minister as well as the Deputy Prime Minister. Can both of them speak Mandarin?

This is Malaysia and all official communication, be it government or private sector, should be conducted preferably in Bahasa Malaysia or English.

We want to move away from the race-based leadership in this country.

We want high-calibre leaders. We do not need leaders to speak in vernacular languages only, especially in a formal setting.

While I agree that it can be a plus point, it should never be part of the criteria to choose a leader.

As citizens of this country, we should all be able to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia. Insisting that a person must be able to communicate in either Mandarin or Tamil just because of his race is a racist assumption. This is my opinion.

Moreover, it shows the lack of historical knowledge of the unique culture in this country.

You just need to walk the streets of Penang and Malacca to understand what I mean. You may meet with a Chinese or an Indian who is unable to communicate in Mandarin or Tamil.

Do not be surprised it they speak Malay with each other. This unique group of people are the Peranakan and Chitty descendents.

After all, MCA was founded by a man who could not speak Mandarin and he is Sir Tun Tan Cheng Lock.

Language does not make a person, manners do. It is more ridiculous if you assume that a person who is not able to communicate in his or her mother tongue does not understand the plights and the culture of his or her community.

Our leaders should stop thinking along the racial lines and be a leader for all Malaysian.

When that happens, I believe even a group like Dong Zong will stop such ridiculous race-based demands and look at the leaders professionally.

Let us all move towards 1Malaysia and move away from a race-based thinking. Appreciate the unique melting pot of the multiracial composition we have today.

Enjoy the existence of vernacular schools and do not demand that your language is more superior than Bahasa Malaysia or English.

You may speak and communicate in your vernacular environment but do not demand that people should do so in a formal setting. That is basic manners.