Pakatan Harapan has lost its credibility

Zaid Ibrahim

PH leaders have to start the new year by rebuilding their credibility; only then they can surmount the many problems facing the country. The easiest and most effective way to restore credibility and undo the damage done to PH is to pull back the policy on Jawi. Before more Malay Ministers and Mentri Besar’s start jumping on the Jawi bandwagon; the Cabinet need to understand the requirements of the law.

At the risk of repeating myself, please remember that Bahasa Malaysia, our national language only recognise Rumi script, although there is no prohibition on the use of Jawi script. What this means is that there is no prohibition to use Jawi but no one, not even the government, can compel the people of this country from using Jawi.

Let me illustrate: If I decide to make a written representation to the Attorney General in Jawi, his office cannot reject my letter because I use Jawi. However, Pahang and Kelantan state government, for example, cannot compel traders to use Jawi signboards; because such a policy must be based on the law. Bahasa Malaysia is our national language, and it’s necessary to use Bahasa Malaysia on our signboards. We must remember, however, that Rumi script is the legal requirement under our law; not the Jawi script when using Bahasa Malaysia. Jawi is part of our history and should be kept alive, but not by compulsion.

Even when PAS comes to power in Pahang, they cannot compel the people to use Jawi Urdu or Arabic, because there is no basis for that policy in law. Leaders need to appreciate what the law requires us to do; before forcing people to adopt any of their policies. In other words, let’s start the new year by learning and understanding the rudiments of the law — that way, we avoid unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings in our community.