Seolah2 orang Amerika lebih rajin memartabatkan BM berbanding rakyat Malaysia sendiri, apatah lagi yg menggelar diri pejuang bahasa.

Yes, we all can talk using our BM to each other Malaysian but does C.L.Tan really understand that why we need to use English as an tool in the business society to get the deals thru (in a faster pace)? We can't lack behind in poor English communication skills when we are dealing with foreigner in our country. We must make them as comfortable as possible to using English as an tool in Malaysia to compare with other cities around the world. We cannot always giving ourself the excuse 'Malaysia Boleh' by enforcing using BM. Let face it we cant grow if we need to succeed. Even as we speak, I am sure Tourism Malaysia is trying very hard to lure foreigner to visit our country for pleasure & work. Yet we they are here, they can get around with all the BM signage easily compare to English or multi-languages signage on it as to compare our neighboring country. Would you want them visit our country only ONCE in thier lifetime or reoccurring repeating visits from them? My point is to C.L.Tan, even Bahasa Malaysia vocabulary wording has been hijacking from English vocabulary wording from it to be use on it. Where is the originality?

C. L. Tan of Kuala Lumpur, How about this article of yours to be in BM?

Thank you C. L. Tan for a thoughtful and well-researched comment. You are absolutely right: Since Merdeka, the Malay language has been meant to provide a sense of cultural continuity, identity and patriotism to all of us. But you know how Malaysians are - painfully quick to discard their history, heritage and culture. Seemingly unaware of what a beautiful, peaceful and extremely affluent (by ANY - including European - standards) country they live in. As if life here was really so tough and unbearable, and people spent every waking moment working, to a point where nothing interests them that has no direct bearing on the state of their wallets. This thread of postings is a good example in itself, complete with the usual shrill lamentations of "everyone wants to get out!". Let them get out and join the rat race in Singapore, China or Australia - and compare, with honesty and humility.

CL Tan must be an arithmetic man; he adds arguments, subtracts justification, divides sensibility and multiplies ignorance. hilarious.

What you say doesn't make sense. Get your facts right. 1. Not to glorify the English language but it is the most commonly spoken language in the world. 2. If you meet a foreigner, in what language would you most likely use to speak to him/her? Talk to them in language they most probably do not understand? The main reason why countries like Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, etc. use multilingual signs is because they do not use the alphabet (A,B,C,D,E, etc.) to spell their words. Tourists will be appreciative if they can communicate with the locals especially when asking for directions or places of interest. Therefore, they can learn the local languages because you will know how to translate local words for them. 3. Regarding websites, if you want to get your message(s) to as many people as possible, the best way is to use a common language that is most probably understood by the majority. Just because I can't read or understand Japanese that doesn't gives me the right to criticize the japanese people when they use only their own language in their website? Making a website bilingual or multilingual will NOT cost double but it is time consuming. The websites you mentioned in your "kudos" are used by people of different countries so out of respect, the users are given the option to use their own language. 4. Have you ever watched a foreign movie that speaks a language you can't understand? For example, if I watch the movie "Ong Bak" which is a Thai movie and it doesn't have subtitles, I wouldn't understand the movie. That is why there have created the technology that not only include subtitles, but you also can change the voices with the dubs done in different language. The wonders of technology never ceases. 5. What sort of legislation do you mean to enforce the use of B.M.? Ban the usage of other languages in this country? Give a fine or jail term to anyone speaking languages other than B.M.? Do not be so blind and ignorant. Malaysia is made out of people with different cultures and languages. B.M. doesn't identify this country the people do. You do not show concern with B.M. but instead you are belittling it. B.M. has been the main language used to teach students in primary up to local university. The reason why the Ministry of Education altered the system to teach Mathematics and Science in English was because the proficiency in English of most Malaysian was poor especially with the students in rural areas. Plus, majority of books are written in English. How can they expand their knowledge when they are only limited to understanding B.M.? Even that plan was scraped because people viewed the concept in such a negative way without seeing the positive aspects of it. Instead of questioning why signs at shopping centers or public place aren't multilingual, why not champion that schools emphasize on both B.M. and English?

Shopping centres put up signs according to their target audience. Who do you think has the purchasing power? Money talks, simple as that.