KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Nov 2008: A code of ethics on courtesy will soon be introduced for members of Parliament to safeguard their propriety when speaking in the Dewan Rakyat.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said with the code MPs will be more careful when speaking so as not to offend anyone.
“We have identified several suitable approaches for its use,” he told reporters after launching the national-level ‘2008 Courtesy is Our Culture’ campaign here today.
Shafie said MPs had been reminded on the implementation of the campaign at the national level.
“The reminder was necessary as MPs draw much attention from the people who listen to them and as such they must be courteous.
“MPs have much influence both in their constituencies and at national level,” he said.
At a separate function, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the mixing of Bahasa Malaysia and English in daily speaking showed that the people experienced a clash of cultures.
He said in such a situation an individual could not be fluent in either language and this led to bad communication.
“If one speaks in Bahasa Malaysia, speak properly and same goes for English,” Rais said when launching the alumni council of the Institut Perguruan Bahasa Melayu Malaysia here today.
Rais said the authority given to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to correct the wrong usage of Bahasa Malaysia in publications and signages did not have a positive outcome.
“The language usage problem is due to weakness in affirmation and enforcement to the point that some quarters take advantage and belittle the National Language Act,” he said. — Bernama
