The following is the transcript of a conversation on an instant messenger between my friend and I some time last week. He recounted the events which transpired when his uncle tried to get some assistance from his MP during the weekly ‘Meet the People’ session.
And as usual you never get to really meet out ‘elite talents’ from the Tali-PAP in any of those sessions. Who his uncle met was just one of those people giving their time to ‘serve the people party’ .
Friend said: tell u update of my uncle’s meet mp story. after going to ask for aid on Monday, they post out a letter dated 22 Apr, ask him come for appt with long list of document on 24 Apr. 2 day! of coz miss then i call back yesterday, ask for postpone i told them he 不识字*, so wait till i visit him then see the letter she reply “but i got attached chinese version wat” now then i know … know chinese is also call 不识字
Me says (18:06): I just read the 2nd part of your uncle meet MP story this morning. KNN now I then know “know chinese” is NOT 不识字 lol
Friend says (18:06): ya lor.
Friend says (18:07): or the other way
Me says (18:07): Oh.. sorry.. I mean 不识字 = cannot read English only. LOL
Friend says (18:07): only know chinese is also 不识字
Me says (18:07): what was the whole story about your uncle again? I cannot remember leow.
Friend says (18:08): he out of job… so my mum bring him to go to his MP wish to get aid… so when he was there… the officer (where got really see MP?) ask: so? wat u wan me to do?
Friend says (18:09): my mother say “help us write to 福利部… then he ask “write wat” hahha
Me says (18:09): -.-“
Friend says (18:09): anyway they were then on 21st evening…
[— This Part Has Been Harmonized 此部分已被和谐 —]
Friend says (18:09): so they VERY efficient… they write to him on 22nd … tell him got appointment for interview on the 24th
[— This Part Has Been Harmonized 此部分已被和谐 —]
Friend says (18:10): then in the letter dated 22nd, the appointment is 24th 3pm… so efficient
Friend says (18:11): then the letter also indicate can call us in need at xxxxxxx, if u dun turn up means u dun nid the assistance liao. but i only got to read the letter on 26 mah. so i call up on 27 ask for change appt…
Friend says (18:12): i say he 不识字… then she reply “but got chinese version attachment mah
Me says (18:12): DIEW… fxxking idiots.Friend says (18:13): then i say “also 不识 chinese 字 ” hahah
Me says (18:13): I will blog abt this u know? I just won’t mention which MP or which constituency and will NOT give the info to anyone else who asked.
Friend says (18:13): then she say “huh? got such thing hahaha
Me says (18:13): -.-“
Friend says (18:16): then anyway i request to change to this friday lor…
Me says (18:16): She doesn’t understand what is TOTALLY illiterate… sigh
Friend says (18:16): then she still “oh… so u still need? ok lor hahha damn buay tahan. y ai also never say dun understand english
* 不识字 – literal meaning: ‘do not understanding writing’. But generally means that one is illiterate. This is not exactly the same as 没读书, which literal meaning is ‘never read books’. Generally used to convey the meaning that one is not educated (没受过教育).
Yet another example which left me perplexed. I don’t know to laugh or cry when my friend recounted this on IM.
It is of no wonder to me why the Chinese standards in Singapore is generally dismal. I have always considered calling a Northern Chinese dialect (Mandarin) our mother tongue one of the main reasons why we find no attachment to the language. After all, I define mother tongue as this: the tongue in my mother’s mouth, and the language she teaches me to speak – in my case, Cantonese.
Now I know the other reason: the lowly opinion some people have of the Chinese language being a language spoken and read by the illiterate. (Though I was under the impression that been illiterate would mean a complete lack of education.)
Anyway, I have censored harmonized the portion where I asked which MP and which GRC this is. It is not the MPs fault, since the fellow also doesn’t know. But after all being said, all these MPs should look into the attitude and the standard of the people they use to stand in their place. After all, they are serving in the MPs capacity and the people elected MPs to serve them. But these people are apparently doing the exact opposite!