Quit squabbling among yourselves

Appeared on The China Press / East Coast on Feb 02, 2009.

Verbatim translation by paragraph:

“大家不要以為民聯內沒有爭吵，公正黨、回教黨、民主行動黨等，也有爭吵，只是他們掩飾得好，就好像瓜登國席補選時，民聯內部也有爭吵。”

"Do not presume that the PR is free from internal squabbles: be it Keadilan, PAS, or DAP. Excellent concealment efforts throughout the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election period might have projected the image that the PR is free from such an encumbrance."

他用心的勸說，大家應以和為貴，並團結一致，一起抵抗金融海嘯的來擊。

The Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaacob exhorts that people should cherish harmony, and place unity as the priority, in enduring the present financial crisis.

他說，國民間的團結是非常重要的，如果是兒童吵架還無所謂，因此，大家不要輕信報章一直報導的吵架新聞。他今日在關丹彭亨州銀禧禮堂出席由關丹華團聯合會主辦、彭州政府贊助的2009年新春大團拜活動，在會上致詞時，這么指出。

In his address in the 2009 New Year Well-wishing Ceremony (2009年新春大團拜), sponsored by the Pahang State Government, held in the Pahang Silver Jubilee Hall, he said the unity of the people is of great importance. On squabbling, he remarked that [while] a squabble among infants has no far-reaching implications, [the same occuring among thinking adults can be rather damaging]. And for this reason, he urges the people to refrain from being easily taken in by reports appearing in the papers sensationalizing senseless squabbles.

“我們必須策劃如何讓人民更團結，政府也沒邊緣化任何種族，全部一視同仁。”

"We need to think about getting people to unite, the Government has not marginalized any race, all are given the same regard."

他說，州政府贊助兩萬令吉充今日的宴會經費，足以證明州政府非常關心種族之間的和諧及重視華裔佳節。

He disclosed that the State Government sponsored MYR20,000 for the event's expenses, and this is sufficient to demonstrate that the State Government cares a lot for the harmony between races and esteems this fine celebration of the Chinese people.

“華裔只要安心經商，孩子有得受教育，其實，馬來人也如是。” 他說，目前全球經濟不景，美國已日漸式微，崛起的大國將是中國及印度。

"The Chinese need only enjoy the peace of mind to go about their trade, and see that the children receive education; actually, this is pretty much the same with the Malays." He said that at present economies worldwide is in bad shape, and that the US is losing lustre each day, and that the giants of the future will be China and India.

“我們要學習華人做生意的方法，但無須到中國去，我們可向丹斯里方天興、拿督周良及拿督彭子明學習。” 大臣在上台致詞時，雖說他不會長篇大論，因為大家是來吃東西，並非來聽演講，無論如何，大臣還是說了約20分鐘。

"We should emulate the Chinese in their business operations. And to do so, we need not go all the way to China. We can learn from our own people Tan Sri 方天興 (I'll find out the Roman names and post it here), Dato' 周良, and Dato' Pang Tsu Ming." Adnan's speech lasted a good 20 minutes.

A merry occasion: from left, Pang Tsu Ming, 陳漢祥, 周良, 方天興, appreciating Adnan Yaacob's calligraphy.

首次由關丹華團聯合會主辦的“2009年新春大團拜”活動今日順利進行，更吸引約千人出席，人潮雖不比往年關丹華社協商理事會多，但場面熱鬧。以往由關丹華社協商理事會主辦的該活動，隨著關丹中華工商會于去年尾宣佈退出該組織而解散后，新春大團拜活動今年由關丹華團負責主辦。

For the first time such a Chinese New Year Well-wishing Ceremony is being organized by [關丹華團聯合會], and it went smoothly. Although a crowd of approximately 1,000 persons was no match for the past ceremonies held by [華社協商理事會/CCC?], the atmosphere was merry. The handing over of the Chinese New Year Well-wishing Ceremony to the [關丹華團聯合會] was due to the disbandment of the [華社協商理事會/CCC?].

大會除了設有幸運抽獎活動外，還備有各項民族表演，包括廿四節令鼓、舞龍、舞蹈及歌唱等。出席者包括英迪拉馬哥打區公正黨國會議員阿占依斯邁、米昔拉區回教黨州議員賽莫哈末及關丹公正黨國會議員傅芝雅特別助理沈春祥等。

Other than the lucky draw, the ceremony encompassed cultural presentations, comprising the Round-Season Drum, the Dragon Dance, folk dance, and singing. Among the people who attended the event are: Indera Mahkota PKR Parliamentary Assemblyman [阿占依斯邁], Beserah PAS State Assemblyman [賽莫哈末], and [沈春祥] (personal assistant to the Kuantan PKR Parliamentary Assemblywoman Fuziah Salleh).

此外，關丹華團聯合會主席拿督周良在會上致詞時指出，在金融危機時刻，大家必須團結一致，加強友誼，為國解難。他說，在佳節時，大家不分種族，同慶佳節，這已成大馬特別文化之一。“我們在互相交流中，更學會接納各族文化，互相尊重，並減少不必要的誤會等。” 他說，在佳節時，如果大家沒聚集一起歡慶，就失去了它的意義。

[周良] in his address highlighted that in the midst of the financial crisis people should unite, strengthen friendship, and help the country overcome difficulties. He said that in festivivity people should come together irrespective of race, to celebrate--and this is the one of the cornerstones of a multiracial Malaysia. "Through our mingling we learn to accept other races' cultures, to respect each other, and to reduce unnecessary misunderstandings." He added that if there were no coming together of the people as one in celebration, the meaning of the celebration is lost.