第三世界思維的大馬觀眾
Friday, 28-04-2006第三世界思維的大馬觀眾
郭素沁
在新聞部部長再努丁總結第九大馬計劃的辯論時，他回答筆者有關直播國會會議的建議時，說政府沒有這個打算，但是大馬廣播電視臺(RTM)經已加強對國會會議的報道。筆者于是打岔問他道：「RTM每天在國會會議期間播映的“今日國會”節目(Parlimen Hari Ini) 鮮少播映在野黨的議員的言論，而很多人不愛看RTM的原因是因為它的報道一面倒。雖然RTM是官營的電視臺，但是RTM其實應該向同樣是官營的英國廣播電視臺(BBC)學習，因為BBC給朝野政黨相同的空間，這就是BBC成功的原因。」
在筆者發問之前一直強調RTM是政府喉舌的再努丁，大概沒料到筆者會拿RTM來與BBC比較，因此他給了一個非常牽強的答復：「大馬觀眾的思維還非常具種族性，他們沒英國人那么成熟，因此RTM還不能做到像BBC那樣的開放。」
根據媒體的報道，再努丁后來在國會走廊回答記者的問題時，也還一再強調他這論點，同時形容大馬的觀眾仍停留在第三世界的思維，他們還無法達致“同意他們不同意的觀點”的智慧與成熟，因此RTM還不能直播國會會議。
當網上媒體「今日大馬」把這則新聞放上其網頁后，一位BBC的記者致電筆者，說再努丁的言論令他覺得非常可笑。是的，我聽部長大人的答復，也覺得好可笑，因為部長把矛頭指向大馬觀眾，說觀眾不及英國人來得成熟，問題是，究竟是大馬人不夠成熟，還是部長及RTM不夠成熟呢？
其實我國自從出現像第三電視臺的私營電視臺以來，RTM便開始面對競爭和挑戰，接着當大馬引進像ASTRO那樣的國外有線電視節目以后，RTM的挑戰可就更大了，因為大馬觀眾擁有更多的節目選擇。
收視率的下降，也意味着廣告收益的的減少，而保守的廣播政策和親政府的節目內容，不但使人才外流，同時也打擊RTM在觀眾心目中的可信度。為力挽狂瀾，RTM不得不在去年開始一系列邀請朝野人物參與的時事辯論和輕談節目，希望藉此提高這官營電視臺的收視率和形象。
我國人民的教育程度已普遍的提高，這意味着他們對電視節目的要求也愈來愈高，他們對一面倒或歌功頌德的報道也會越來越不感興趣。與其指我國觀眾不夠成熟和仍停留在第三世界的思維，不如說我們的部長大人和RTM的高層仍停留在第三世界的思維，因為在這資訊發達的年代，他們仍希望通過這官營媒體來控制資訊和影響觀眾的思維，開時代的倒車。
RTM再不改變，那么它肯定更為人民所唾棄！
（29－4－06）
Come to think of it, how did the Minister arrive at the conclusion that M’sians are immature? Did he do a survey? U r right, perhaps it was the best answer he could muster as he did not anticipate your comparison of RTM and BBC.
If he did continue to repeat his assertion that Malaysians are immature outside the corridor, is he implying that the Education, Social Development and National Unity Ministries are not doing their job? We are almost 50 years old as a nation. If the rakyat is still immature (right – holding hands in indecent and inconsistent with “asian Value”) who is to blame?
I have ceased watching RTM since the 1980’s when I was in secondary school. Even then I knew it was biased reporting.
The next stage for this Minister is, what can he and the other relevant ministers do to promote “maturity”? Just saying that we are “immature” is not good enough. He got to prove it and take steps to rectify it!
If I were to give my boss an half baked excuse and don;t come up with a solution, I will be sacked from my desk job! I would expect more from a Minister.
Comment by lee wee tak_ — Tuesday, 02-05-2006 @ 15: 49.23
Dear Teresa,
sorry coz i’ve to send a post like this since i don’t quite know how to post …
anyway i’ve send this post to BBC Chairman Dato’ Shahrir, hoping that he would give due attention to the matter. Sadly, he only post the 2nd. part of this report.
Malaysian Institute of Translations (Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad – ITNM) is a joke from the beginning.
Tolong raise up in Parliament. Ask for the original working paper that become the basis of ITNM’s existance. Compare and constrast with the latest one as propose by the current Managing Director (to ask and justify for more budget). All the “jokes” are in those papers.
U also can take up the issue with either Harakah, or Siasah – basically both are quite aware of the issue; only need a “personality” to carry it. TQ.
Below are the two parts i’ve send to Shahrir-Umno.com
Assalamualaikum wrm., wbt.
YB Dato’,
surat saya agak panjang, namun saya berharap Dato’ mempunyai kelapangan sewajarnya untuk membacanya. Insya’llah.
Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad (ITNM) ditubuh pada 1994 sebagai “badan tunggal rasmi” mengurus aktiviti terjemahan di negara ini. Antara lain, rasional penubuhan adalah memperkaya khazanah ilmu bangsa dan negara terutama dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Sejajaran penubuhannya, Bahagian Terjemahan, Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) ditutup kerana tugas menterjemah akan dilaksana sepenuhnya oleh ITNM.
Modal operasi RM35 juta manakala modal bangunan RM17 juta lebih kurang. Sekarang Wisma ITNM megah tersergam di Seksyen 10 Wangasa Maju KL. Dimilik penuh oleh Menteri Kewangan DiPerbadankan, penyeliaan di bawah Kementerian Pendidikan (sekarang Pelajaran)
Di ambang penutupannya, Bahagian Terjemahan DBP telah menerbitkan sekitar 400 judul buku pelbagai bidang setahun. Tugas ini berpindah tangan kepada ITNM, iaitu sempena pengumuman penubuhannya, DBP hendaklah berhenti meneruskan aktiviti terjemahan dan hanya menyiapkan tugas terjemahan yang sedang berjalan, manakala ITNM menyambung baki tugas terjemahan yang masih belum dilaksanakan. ITNM pula berjanji dan mensasarkan tempoh tiga tahun untuk mencapai tahap 400 judul dalam satu tahun itu.
Satu lagi isu menarik tentang ITNM ini ialah kelulusan penubuhannya dibuat dalam Mesyuarat Kabinet dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan PM ketika itu, Allahyarham Tun Ghaffar. Difahamkan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim umpamakan operasi ITNM dalam bentuk syarikat seperti buat kilang kasut di Ceruk Tok Kun. Pandangan DSAI itu selaras dengan pandangan majoriti ahli bahasa dan terjemahan bahawa kerja terjemahan merupakan “social obligation” yang terlalu sukar buat untung (beroperasi sebagai syarikat). Tidak wujud operasi sedemikian di dalam dunia (hingga ke hari ini)!!
Menteri pendidikan ketika itu, Daro Sulaiman Daud.
Gagasan asal yang dibuat oleh DBP dan Persatuan Penterjemah Malaysia (PPM) ialah dalam bentuk Biro Terjemahan Negara (BTN). Kerja terjemahan merupakan cabang utama di bawah struktur DBP (sebagai salah satu dari lima bahagian utama). Penterjemah bukan professional sepenuh masa. Rata-rata petugas DBP yang ahli PPM, jadi gagasan yang turut disokong oleh Persatuan Linguistik Malaysia, Kongres Cendikiawan Melayu dll., mahu supaya diwujud secara berasingan dari DBP (soal birokrasi dan bajet).
Waktu DSAI jadi Menteri, beliau bersetuju – lalu satu geran diletak di bawah DBP sebagai langkah permulaan. Malangnya geran tersebut tidak digunakan kerana apabila DBP mohon peruntukan, ia sudah ambilkira peruntukan Bahagian Terjemahan.
Seorang AJK di peringkat PPM – Profesor Dr sebuah universiti lantas ubah suai gagasan tersebut dalam bentuk syarikat – kerana faham jika dikemukakan dalam bentuk badan kerajaan akan ditolak. Maklumlah ketika itu, “buzzword” ialah penswastaan”. Ini ditambah nilai dengan “kononnya” the future is machine translation – no more human translator. The minister was hooked, lined and sank like a barrel.
The rest is history – Profesor Dr itu jadi Pengarah Urusan pertama ITNM
Kertas kerja tersebut berdasarkan Canadian Bureau of Translation
Semua perkara di atas merupakan pengetahuan am berikutan kenyataan (dan seterusnya laporan akhbar) yang dibuat oleh Menteri berkenaan ketika itu, dan Pengarah Urusan pertama ITNM.
SELEPAS 12 TAHUN – MARI KITA SOROT KISAH ITNM INI ……….
Pertama : Arahan kerajaan diingkari.
Genap 3 tahun operasi ITNM sekitar 1998, DBP umum projek terjemahan terbesar dalam sejarah iaitu World Encyclopedia. Kerja terjemahan berselindung atas nama Unit Buku Agama diteruskan – malah terus dapat peruntukan.
Pihak-pihak lain seperti penerbit di semua universiti tempatan tak ambil “pot” kewujudan dan tugas rasmi ITNM. Mereka terus terjemah keperluan buku universiti tanpa merujuk kepada ITNM.
Kedua : Kontroversi demi kontroversi.
Malah sebelum tubuh secara rasmi – ITNM sudah jadi “headline” Utusan pada ketika Dato Johan Jaafar jadi Ketua Pengarang. Kemudian masalah dalaman tak berkesudahan dalam bentuk memo kepada menteri, pemecatan dan pemberhentian beramai-ramai kakitangan teras ITNM, kes-kes tuntutan mahkamah (pembuangan tidak sah) dll. Di awal penubuhannya staf ITNM melebihi 100 orang. Hari ini tinggal tak sampai 40 orang.
Ketiga : Janji manis dan teknologi canggih.
Janji manis ITNM akan buat untung berjuta-juta lesap macam wap air panas. Tak payah ulas kenapa. Bahagian R&D untuk develop so-called “machine translation” (core activity with more than 30 staf) terburai dan ditutup semasa Pengarah Urusan kedua. Kerugian pelaburan R&D ini tak pernah dijelaskan.
Keempat : Kakitangan Wibawa
Pada awalnya, ramai juga nama-nama “berwibawa” dalam bidang bahasa dan terjemahan menyertai ITNM. Ada yang pencen awal, ambil cuti tanpa gaji dsb., untuk mencuba potensi ITNM. Tak sampai lima tahun operasinya, semua staf ini tidak lagi bersama-sama ITNM. Hari ini (kalau tak percaya), tanyakan ITNM siapakah “authority”, atau “quality controller” kepada hasil kerja, atau produk ITNM?
ITNM mungkin jawab mereka guna penterjemah luar secara kontrak. Okay, tapi final or finished work siapa yang check dan endorse? Ada the required qualification ke?
Kelima : Struktur operasi ITNM
Apabila kerajaan Canada memutuskan untuk menterjemah semua dokumentasi kerajaan ke dalam bahasa Perancis (sebab rakyatnya ramai berbahasa Perancis), beratus-ratus penterjemah telah diletak di bawah Biro Terjemahan Canada. Apabila tugas selesai – semua penterjemah ini diberi lessen menjadi penterjemah professional secara independent, dan biro dijadikan “regulator”.
Sejak awal, struktur organisasi ITNM kelam-kabut. Pada satu-satu masa, staf “Penterjemah” (yang actually doing the translation, which is the core business) tak pernah melebih 7 atau 8 orang!!. Outsourcing is the buzzword. Sekarang difahamkan Cuma ada dua atau tiga ketul Penterjemah, itu pun buat kerja administration.
Bila keadaan teruk, ITNM pernah upah PriceWaterhouse(PW) untuk buat internal inquiry and auditing. Bayar ratus ribu. Report PW was spot-on a few matters, tapi report tu mungkin Board members buat bungkus nasi lemak kot …
Keenam : Ketua Operasi ITNM
ITNM diketuai Pengarah Urusan (PU) yang report to the Board of Directors. Chairman of the Board asalnya Menteri. Selepas PU pertama ditendang keluar for obvious reasons, kuasa yang melantik memulakan era “orang pencen” sebagai PU. Tiga orang PU secara berturut-turut ialah pegawai kanan Kementerian yang baru pencen dan tidak ada business background sepatah haram – tapi diberi arahan menghitamkan kembali akaun ITNM. Tak cukup lagi, semuanya (kecuali seorang yang ada latar belakang bahasa), buta terjemahan. Kelakarnya, seorang PU wanita mendabik dada pernah menterjemah sebuah buku masa semasa jadi pegawai di kementerian sebagai MAGNUM OPUS dan AUTHORITY background terjemahannya. Cara tadbir beliau ialah 2, atau 3 kali seminggu ada perjumpaan dengan semua staf untuk dengar amanat cum ceramah cum cerita kisah lampau (read muda bergetah) cum leteran cum kutukan bla .., bla .., bla.
Tak ade satu PU yang berjaya laksana tugas supaya hitamkan akaun kewangan ITNM, jadi paling lama satu atau satu setengah penggal kontrak sahaja. Dan semuanya menghadapi pelbagai masalah. Akibatnya tidak ada lagi pegawai kanan kementerian yang hendak pencen mahu jawatan PU ITNM. Akhirnya kena iklan dalam paper – macam jawatan Setiausaha Agung FAM.
Selepas diinterview, seorang mamat yang dakwa kuat connection & networking MCKK is the latest PU. Mamat ni background undang-undang. Katanya pernah ada legal firm sendiri??(kantoi ler kot). Post akhir sebelum PU ITNM dengan MIMOS. Cuba Tanya MIMOS – siapakah Shaharuddin bin Ali; they might have some interesting stories to tell.
Macam biasa, mamat ni blurr tentang terjemahan dan of course, misguided notion on business. Reasonnya simple – depa tak ada the necessary know-how and experience.
YET, THE LASTEST PU NI ADA SIKIT TWIST SEBAB ADA LAW BACKGOUND.
After the usual expected of such people – like claiming up and down, left and right – Minister Hishamuddin is good buddy and calling him practically everyday – he comes out with a new working paper to justify a new budget of millions of RM.
First and foremost, dia put the entire blame on the failure of ITNM on the original proposal paper. Nampak macam smart, supaya dia tak pikul beban PU sebelum dia. Maka stolie-stolie dia (bebudak kat Corporate Dept ITNM yang memang selama ni been living on PU’s yang buta terjemahan) sokong dan assist the scheme to influence the equally “lost in translation” members of the Board of Directors – now consisting the likes of Datuk Norza and Datuk Raof (Minister Hishamuddin’s punya hatchetman from sayap Pemuda. Come on, Dato’ Shahrir – you knew these peoples far better than me. Pray tell, at what point does translation of academic meet with these people punya intellectual capacity …. Takkan takde orang lain. Even PU jokes around the office saying that Datuk Raof’s first attempt to sound relevant at the board meeting was to suggest that in order to make money, ITNM should come out with a SMS driven product the likes of Akademi Fantasia …… “ la ni yang bikin duit, … sms!”. PU added that Datuk Raof should had include his Pemuda’s bikers gang into the equation. Tapi depan dua-dua Datuks ni biasa la.., PU akan cium tangan pun tak apa.
OKAY LA. SURELY YB DATO GETS THE PICTURE.
Walau pun tak involve ratus juta, tapi duit rakyat jugak. Kalau memang ITNM dah tak relevant dengan operasi dan government’s planning – at the least, the millions of RM is better elsewhere.
The issues to raise are as follow;
One : Government must be clear on who is the one entrusted with translations activities. No over-lapping of responsibility. Rugi duit, masa, efforts etc.
Two : Status of ITNM as business entity (to make money, or social obligation). It cannot do both tasks. Impossible. Cadangan ialah on the books (classical, academic etc) side, revert balik pada Biro Terjemahan Negara; other areas like translation of documents, advertising, film & tv subtitle, (terjemahan rencam) may be converted to a business enterprise with the current PU (and all his stolie at Corporate Dept) running it. If they can make it a success, let they decide on their own remuneration packages.
Three : The PU’s proposal paper to justify the new budget. Ask the Ministry to submit to Backbenchers’ Club to vet through and deliberate upon it. So as to make counter proposal, or to comment on it. Believe me, it has some interesting and funny looking stuff – even the PU’s stolie at Corporate Dept is sneering tactfully at their boss’s recommendations. Tikus baiki labu, said the right hand man, pun intended.
Fourth : Ask ITNM to clarify – (a) How many unpublished translation manuscripts are still in ITNM’s hand? (b) Are those manuscripts been paid out, if yes how much? (c) Why are those manuscripts are not published? (c) When a particular book was selected to be translate – does the process not to include, beside the cost of translation, the cost of editing, print and so forth? (d) How much were paid to acquire copyright to all the books which have been selected to be translated by ITNM? (e) Out of that amount, how much “gone down the drain” due to expiration of time because the translated manuscript was not publish? (f) How much was paid out due to court action of former staf, or out-of-court settlement, if any (g) Is there any unsettle/pending court action against ITNM from any party whom-so-ever, and if any, what action that have been taken to protect ITNM’s interest, and what are the possible ramification against ITNM in such cases, if any.
Finally : THE MOST IMPORTANT – ITNM Organization & Employments Report since its inception in 1994 i.e. the original structures, and its subsequent re-structuring forms. Record on employment i.e. according to post, salary, date of entry, date of exit, changes in position (promotion etc).
THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED EXERCISE. because ITNM’s staf decrease substantially from 1994. BUT DO NOT RELY ON INFO FROM THEIR CORPORATE DEPT. Even PriceWaterhouse was duped when appointed to carry out a detailed inquiry by sending junior executives to checked and conducted interviews with the staff.
Just send in those government task force from Ministry of Finance, or Human resources, or Labour Office, and get hold of the files without fuss – sure a clearer picture will be made available.
YB Dato’
i know you appreciate it when i come to you with all these …, and seek your assistance to highlight a certain irregularity in the name of the taxpayer’s and the nation. It has been going on for too long – the least they’ll know somebody is looking hard at them.
Yes, granted that the amount is comparatively small. However, still does not excuse it. It does not involve the integrity of “big guns”, just “would be small Napoleons”.
And being a Bahagian AJK for more than 20 odd years, your soothing voice is much more pleasant than hearing Salahuddin Ayob’s booming rattles, or Kit Siang’s half shouts,
i.e. a choice YB Dato’ is in a more apt position to make compare to a humble worker like me.
Terima kasih.
Keris Sempena Malaysia Boleh.
Assalamualaikum wrm., wbt.
YB Dato’
i believe that the report on Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad (ITNM) miss out one significant point.
Some time early this year, the Managing Director of ITNM announced a few things in the media. One catchy small heading said that ITNM has managed to translated about 180 (or if not, 80) titles of various books. It goes to include … (termasuk bacaan kanak-kanak). Yet, surprisingly it also stated that these 180 odd titles was achieved SINCE ITS INCEPTION in 1994
I’ve waited, and waited, and waited. No one (yang berwewenang) says anything. No comment, nothing, na na …, zero. Finally, with heavy heart i’ve to accept that NOBODY CARES. So what …, how many millions (gone to the drain) was that? ... What? Translations? Language? Memperkaya khazanah ilmu bangsa …., WHY????
In 1994, with about 400 titles A YEAR, at least we were still on the track. And we had to messed it up. Then the issue was what sort of books make good reading; or how do we select titles beside the requested academic titles; or what sort of Islamic titles are we looking at … etc
Before 1994, the quality of the translation text was vetted through a systematic way. The work process at Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) required 2 editors to checked. The final text carry the endorsement of DBP when published. Those days, most of the recognised and accepted language experts reside at DBP.
Apabila Tun Mahathir (masa jadi PM) nak justified tindakan kerajaan mengenengahkan semula BI dalam sistem pendidikan negara, termasuk di peringkat universiti – alasan kegagalan usaha penterjemahan diguna pakai i.e. too slow, takda quality etc. Yet, somehow …, ITNM was never to be any part of the equation – and was left to carry on their pathetic existence.
ITNM jadi “pariah” no one want to do anything with.
Maka duit rakyat (walau sedikit), tahun demi tahun diperabis. Usually to satisfy the whims and fancies of the Pengarah Urusan i.e. to be spent in accordance with how that PU interpreted what “translation” is all about.
All of them sprayed their bullet towards KL, whilst the target stand somewhere between Singapore and Batam. Really man, those pathetic little Napoleons wanna be.
Macam ni la YB Dato’
the present PU ni difahamkan ada juga menebeng kat Parlimen tu .., yalah kamcing Menteri (now dakwa part of Hisham’s think tank). Kalau ada peluang berjumpa, cuba tanya a few questions like Siapa Penterjemah Terbaik Di Malaysia sekarang? or something to that effect. Might provide you with a good and original jokes over the dinner table.
Least but not last,
tolong ya YB, tolong highlight sikit bende ni. Kalau bende kecik tak boleh settle, yang besar macam Crooked Bridge tu nak settle macam mana …
Wassalam.
Comment by Malaysia X Boleh — Tuesday, 02-05-2006 @ 18: 20.46
No need to beg, and it is only their third class minds that they assume others are having immaturity as equal or worse than theirs.
This minister will claim misquotations or simply ignore the intelligence of Malaysian.
I am ashamed of his ability and wondering how does PM decide to appoint him as minister of information?
Comment by lcclck — Tuesday, 02-05-2006 @ 20: 34.13