http://dapmalaysia.org  

DBP should take seriously the complaints regarding the use of the offensive word “keling” and its related phrases in the Kamus Dewan and direct the removal of the example cited for the word “kecinaan” which portrays the DAP in a bad light   Press Statement by John Chung (Petaling Jaya, Friday): Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) should take seriously the complaints by Angkatan Pelopor India Muslim Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Apim) and other parties over the usage of “keling” and phrases containing the word in the Kamus Dewan.  Apim had complained against the use of ‘keling’ and “keling” related idioms in the Dewan Kamus which is deemed offensive and derogatory to the Indian community. However, it appears that the DBP has not taken seriously these complaints judging from the remarks made by DBP director-general Datuk A. Aziz Deraman.   It is difficult to fathom why the word “keling” is listed in the Kamus Dewan when the word “india” is left out. The statement by Aziz that the Kamus Dewan cannot list every word should not be used as an excuse not to list important words such as “India”, “iban” and “kadazan”, especially when both the words “melayu” and “cina” are listed in the dictionary. Surely the Kamus Dewan should also list these other words to show that DBP respects the fact that Malaysia is made up of a plurality of ethnic groups.   At the same time, Aziz should also explain the example cited by the dictionary for the word “kecinaan”.   The meaning of the word “kecinaan” is given as follows:   “yg berkaitan dgn orang atau bangsa Cina, yg mementingkan (memperjuangkan hak dan kepentingan) bangsa Cina sahaja”   The example of usage for the word “kecinaan” is given as follows:   “Dr. Syed Husin Ali memberi alasan wujudnya parti pembangkang (DAP) yang memainkan sentimen kecinaan membuat pengundi Cina tidak memangkah MCA; akhirnya timbullah perasaan kecinaan dan keindiaan.”     The use of such an example in the Kamus Dewan is distasteful and offensive as it portrays the DAP in a bad light as it insinuates that the party plays up Chinese sentiments and champions only the rights and interests of the Chinese which is not only mischievous but also dishonest and untruthful as the DAP is in essence a multi-racial party that upholds the rights and interests of all races.   Not only so, such a depiction of the DAP is misleading and would give rise to a negative perception of the party amongst the users of the Kamus Dewan.   Hence, Aziz must provide a satisfactorily explanation why such a distasteful and inappropriate explanation involving the DAP was used in the first place and order the removal of the offensive example from the Kamus Dewan.   (8/8/2003) * John Chung, DAP National Publicity Bureau Assistant Secretary