TV ad on KARA

I wish to comment on the TV commercial for KARA, a tetra- packed coconut milk. The commercial features a Chinese model who speaks in Mandarin to represent Singapore. My question to the KARA commercial makers is why choose to speak in Mandarin?

The national language of Singapore is English, widely spoken and mainly used by Singaporeans in schools, malls, offices, government buildings and airports. Singapore's second languages are Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Indonesia's national language is Bahasa, and its second languages are many local dialects, including Batak, Javanese and Sundanese.

As a multilingual, multiracial and multicultural country, English has brought all Singaporeans together as one united people, just as has Bahasa.

Rich Indonesians are known to throng the streets of Singapore and they see for themselves the living harmony of multiracial Singaporeans who speak mostly English.

Instead, professionals like you, who make commercials, further support the embarrassing fact that Indonesians actually do not know what is the main language of Singapore yet you dare to use it in a TV commercial. Not to mention the discrimination you have shown toward the other race groups in Singapore as a result of your commercial.

As commercial makers, your job, other than the glamorous side of promoting and marketing a new product, is to give correct information and educate viewers. The above has proved otherwise.

The Indonesian government encourages its people to read books. My advice to you is: read more.

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