How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Friday, October 01, 2010

Lesson on direct translation from Bahasa Malaysia to English

this could be made up, but still funny:

It reminds me of a joke (Chinese version) which my father-in-law shared with my son:

Police: Apa nama? (What's your name?)
Chinese man: Babi Enam (Hakka name: Chu Luk which translates as Pig Six)

Police: Apa kerja? (What's your occupation?)
Chinese man: Kereta tiga (directly translated from Chinese 'Cheh sam' for a person who uses a sewing machine, but which sounds like 'car three')

Police: Pergi mana? (Where are you going?)
Chinese man: Ayam belakang (directly translated from Hakka 'kai mui' which sounds like 'back of chicken' but in this case, the 'kai' refers to 'road' instead).

Now we know why 1Malaysia is so difficult!

Police: Tahu apa salah? (Do you know what's your offence?)
Chinese man: Kencing longkang ( or urinating into the drain).

3 comments:

bayi said...

LOL!

What about the Chinese guy who kept toasting his American guest, "Kan pei!" which means "bottoms up".

After some time the exasperated guest said, "Ok! Ok! I will pay if you can't pay!"

KoSong Cafe said...

Thanks Bayi. If not mistaken, I have posted that one before.

Anonymous said...

i thought the apa salah part was answered with "Lanciao Buang Air"

copyright Lee Lien Yew circa 1988