Now what one finds on many a blog and in the local and world mass media, is that our new PM, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who became the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31st October 2003, is referred to as Pak Lah more often than not. It is believed that this is used rather in an affectionate manner, our new PM is also referred to as Mr Clean pretty often. Today it was pointed out(thanks CSH for the pointer) to this blogger that it may not be proper (at least to one letter writer to the NST) for the common people, like this blogger to continue "pak lahing" the new PM. The said letter runs like this ::
Addressing the PM right and proper Now that Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi is the Prime Mnister, the least the common people can do when addressing him is to uphold the sanctity of the position he is holding. I find the moniker "Pak Lah" rather repulsive and out of place. It is not suitable for all and sundry to refer to him as such. The Prime Minister is not in a position to object. The onus is on us to address him right and proper. We can address him simply as Datuk Seri Abdullah. Anything less than that does not sound sweet. We shall maintain the culture of respect, especially to the CEO of the nation.
Now is this writer saying that it was okay for the common people to address our PM as "Pak Lah" up till when he was the DPM and not so now that he is the PM? Has the new PM made any suggestion that he disliked being referred thus? A check with the new official PMO website, which incidentally is truly up-to-date, (it even lists events up till the 7th of November), does not answer this question :: To Pak Lah of Not?. What do fellow bloggers say?
For the said writer's info,to be collect, collect, the new PM should be addressed as "Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi" and not Datuk Seri Abdullah, now what's the diff? As for this blogger till further notice the new PM shall continue to be Pak Lah as least on this blog.
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I regard the great faiths of the WORLD as so many branches of a tree, each distinct from the other though having the same source.----Mahatma Ghandhi.
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