Blame Others, Don't Blame Yourself!

The Star 10 January 2012

A few days ago, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) became the butt of the nation's joke when they had a posting in their website on "ethical clothing" for military personnel that had stated, among others, "clothes that poke eye" that had netizens ROTFL i.e rolling on the floor laughing!

Mindef then quickly took down the posting.  Instead of taking full responsibility Mindef, in the manner typical of Malaysian bureaucracy, now blames Google Translate for the guffaw.

Come on, even a six year old knows that Google Translate has limitations. Didn't the Ministry have a single person who could do a proper translation from Malay to English?

How are we to trust Mindef to take care of Malaysia's security? How are they going to negotiate for the purchase of sophisticated modern weaponry?

Anyway, to check out Mindef's claim that it was Google Translate to blame, I googled Google Translate for "Pakaian yang menjolok mata" and this was what I found ''dress scantily" NOT "clothes that poke eye".

Now, "dress scantily" is closer to the meaning of revealing clothes which is what "pakaian yang menjolok mata" in Malay means.

Now, if you want to blame others, at least be smart lah!

Now, whom shall I blame?