看不懂的华文

choongyong.koh — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:05:11 -0000

Clipped by choongyong.koh to www.zaobao.com articles

看不懂的华文

● 陈雪薇

　　我住勿洛蓄水池一带。最近，这里的住户都收到了附近一所中学发出的传单，通知住户要在某月某日上门收集旧衣物作为慈善用途。我看了传单的中文，简直不敢相信这是学校发出的。华文显然是根据英文翻译的，但却译得一塌糊涂，让人看了摸不着头脑。显然的，文字完全没有经过适当的校阅，翻译者也完全不负责任，以致贻笑大方。以下就是传单的原文：

　　“亲爱的居民，

　　作为我们的学校的CIP节目一部分，我们在我们的老报纸和衣物的汇集寻求您的帮助培养资金为是我们的被采取的慈善在2007年的MIDAS（新加坡肌肉萎缩症协会）。在星期四汇集8月30日将发生在2和5pm之间。

　　如果您可能留下您的老报纸和衣物在您的门阶在那天促进我们的汇集，我们会感激。不要使用镇议会提供的黄色塑料袋。简单的塑料袋就足够了。您的贡献被赞赏。谢谢！”

Grassroot supporters led minister away from resident who had much to complain about - April 22, 2006

choongyong.koh — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 05:53:39 -0000

Clipped by choongyong.koh to know about Singapore politics

Grassroot supporters led minister away from resident who had much to complain about

I refer to the report "When 6 kids turned up at Meet-the-People session" (ST, April 19). Minister Raymond Lim was quoted as saying that what matters most to people are bread-and-butter issues rather than greater freedom and self-expression.

Grassroot supporters led minister away from resident who had much to complain about

MM Lee's dialogue shows that knowledgeable young Singaporeans are not wise

Criticisms of young participants at MM Lee's dialogue are unfair. Don't we want forward-thinking, inquisitive minds?

Ban on political podcasts: Drop the instincts about protecting people. Let them decide for themselves

Why are we reluctant to challenge the govt? Is it because of strict controls on political speech?

Political apathy can't be good for S'pore. Have more dialogues like the one with MM Lee

The PAP should be a party for all S'poreans. Leave no one behind

Govt should also talk to the post-80ers before they are of voting age to engage them

This notion was also implied by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in his televised dialogue "Why my vote matters" with young Singaporeans, and it was echoed by some readers who wrote to the Forum.

It appears that Mr Lim, MM Lee and the letter writers were making the assumption that freedom of expression and sustenance are two mutually exclusive issues.

I want to put forth that such an assumption is erroneous. The two are separate and orthogonal issues. We do not have to forgo one in order to have the other. Many nations have achieved both. What is preventing us from having them too?

Next, I want to focus in the same report which implied that Mr Lim learnt about what he thought the people wanted through his house-to-house visits.

I live in Block 183 Bedok North Road, which was one of the flats Mr Lim came calling a few months ago. Part of his entourage went ahead of him to knock on doors and alert residents of his arrival.

Upon finding out that I had much to complain about, they suddenly gave the excuse that Mr Lim had an urgent matter and would have to cut short his walkabout. After they left my door, I found them still going on their rounds.

I have since heard from friends who are involved in grassroots organisations that this was the usual modus operandi used by some MPs.

John Tan Liang-Joo

choongyong.koh's clips tagged forum

看不懂的华文

看不懂的华文

Grassroot supporters led minister away from resident who had much to complain about - April 22, 2006