Doesnt matter what you say, its how its understood
Zack Lee Ji WengPublished: Jun 29, 2007 7:13 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
I refer to the letter JJ didn't mean to insult student by Abdul Kadir Azhari.
Let me begin by saying that although I do agree with Abdul Kadir Azhari's views on the needless escalation of the situation, I strongly feel that Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Jamaludin Jarjis does need to apologise one way or another.
It is ironic to see how the leaders within our country still employ elementary politics. To be blunt, it does not matter what you want to say, how you said it, or even if you understand what your words meant. What matter the most is how the listener understood the message.
Don't mind me saying, if it was Pakistan (I totally agree with Lim Kit Siang), Jamaludin would have sparked hate riots and caused an international relations nightmare. This is basic communication.
Was Jamaludin's remarks made using skin colour as the indication of wealth? If presumably he did make his remarks referring to skin colour, and then is not this culturally insensitivity? I mean, hey, we are just weeks away from our 50th Independence Day. Is there a lack of cultural education for our politicians of our country?
Whatever it was worth, silly blunders like this hurt our national pride. At the very least, the minister should have the courage to stand up and say 'I sincerely apologise' for the sake of the nation's pride. Is that too much to ask?
Let me begin by saying that although I do agree with Abdul Kadir Azhari's views on the needless escalation of the situation, I strongly feel that Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Jamaludin Jarjis does need to apologise one way or another.
It is ironic to see how the leaders within our country still employ elementary politics. To be blunt, it does not matter what you want to say, how you said it, or even if you understand what your words meant. What matter the most is how the listener understood the message.
Don't mind me saying, if it was Pakistan (I totally agree with Lim Kit Siang), Jamaludin would have sparked hate riots and caused an international relations nightmare. This is basic communication.
Was Jamaludin's remarks made using skin colour as the indication of wealth? If presumably he did make his remarks referring to skin colour, and then is not this culturally insensitivity? I mean, hey, we are just weeks away from our 50th Independence Day. Is there a lack of cultural education for our politicians of our country?
Whatever it was worth, silly blunders like this hurt our national pride. At the very least, the minister should have the courage to stand up and say 'I sincerely apologise' for the sake of the nation's pride. Is that too much to ask?
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