MALAYSIAN PM'S SON DELIVERS SPEECH IN MANDARIN AT BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY

BEIJING, July 2 (Bernama) -- A three-week course to enhance proficiency in
Mandarin proved fruitful for the Malaysian prime minister's son, Norashman
Razak, when he delivered a speech in the language, winning applause from his
teachers and fellow students at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).

Norashman not only pronounced the words correctly, but also used many
phrases in his speech and was hardworking during the course, said BFSU president
Prof Chen Yulu at a special course-completion ceremony for Norashman, here,
Friday.

Norashman who carries the Chinese name, Ji Ping, was awarded with a
certificate and recognised as an alumni of the university. Also present at the
ceremony were the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor and officials
from the Malaysian embassy here.

"Although I am here for only three weeks, my command of Mandarin has
improved a lot. I have also learned more about Chinese culture and the Chinese
community here," said Norashman in his speech.

He said that during his three-year study in the United States, he only had
the chance to speak Mandarin in class and had little opportunity to practise it
outside class.


"Mandarin is a language that needs constant practice because incorrect
intonation of a word carries a different meaning altogether for the word.

"I have the perfect chance to practise the language at BFSU, as I have many
local Chinese friends and Malaysian students studying Mandarin here.

"Some of the Malaysian students here have only been learning Mandarin for a
year but they are good," he said.

Norashman felt that three weeks here was rather short for him, and he wished
to come back to BFSU for an advance Chinese course later on.

His wish to return to BFSU would be fulfilled, according to Rosmah, as Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak had agreed to send Norashman for a one-month
course at BFSU next year as well as to celebrate BFSU's 70th anniversary as an
alumni.

She said the prime minister wanted Norashman to master Mandarin so that it
would be more convenient for him to communicate with the Malaysian Chinese in
the language.

-- BERNAMA