Editor’s Note: In a lighter vein, “6-7” has a vulgar connotation in Cantonese to mean “men’s pen*s”.
WHEN ministers MPs start to imitate the “6-7” culture in the august Dewan Rakyat or on the political stage, it does not seem rakyat-friendly but actually degrades the dignity of the country’s institutions and leaders.
When Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek found herself carried away to mimic and pretend to speak the “Gen Alpha” lingo, then we “we have lost it”.
Surrender and retreat! It is ridiculous for educated and learned ministers to be influenced by a sign language that according to Google AI:
The “6-7” trend is a viral, nonsensical Gen Alpha slang and social media meme. Kids shout “six-seven” while doing a specific hand gesture (alternately raising and lowering upturned palms).
It has no hidden meaning, serving primarily as a playful inside joke to signal belonging.
The rakyat elect their representatives to bring about arguments, policies and solutions. Not to compete to see who is the most viral, the most eloquent or the loudest in playing street narratives for the sake of applause from their supporters.
‘Speak coherent, classy language”
Political language that is too “6-7” may get a momentary social media cheer but in the long run, it erodes respect for Parliament and the ministerial position itself.
When leaders themselves choose to speak like internet trolls, don’t be surprised if the rakyat end up witnessing national institutions becoming a joke or no longer a place to build national policies.
It is more worrying when this culture is deliberately normalised in the name of “wanting to get closer to the rakyat“.
The fact is that the rakyat do not need leaders who are good at playing slang or become the government’s official version of keyboard warriors.
The rakyat need leaders who are mature, authoritative and able to speak with coherent and “classy” language even when facing political opponents.
Leaders can be firm. Leaders can be cynical. Leaders can attack political opponents. But when the standard of debate falls to just a “6-7” culture, then national politics also fall alongside.
The reflection is such that our ministers have lost both their mind and the language to defend policies, thus leading the country forward.
Large institutions do not collapse all at once. They collapse little by little when the leaders themselves stop maintaining the dignity of their language, manners and leadership standards.
On the one hand, we want to uphold the national language but we are also following the “nonsensical signals” of the alpha language which do not bring about any effective communication sense.
Always emphasise effective communication, my dear ministers, not joking and clowning around! We should only indulge in baby chat when we talk to babies.
A lawyer by training, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker was a former MCA vice-president and former national unity deputy minister.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.
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