tak pasal-pasal kena

English translation: dragged into the mud for no rhyme or reason

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Malay term or phrase:tak pasal-pasal kena
English translation:dragged into the mud for no rhyme or reason
Entered by: Graham Benne (X)

10:04 Dec 5, 2018
Malay to English translations [PRO]
Livestock / Animal Husbandry
Malay term or phrase: tak pasal-pasal kena
Under a newspaper photo at https://cilisos.my/boleh-ke-cina-malaysia-balik-china/
Full sentence "Apalah salah babi dan lembu, tak pasal-pasal kena"
Graham Benne (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:25
dragged into the mud for no rhyme or reason
Explanation:
this is colloquial Malay:
- 'pasal' means cause, issue, fault, so 'tak pasal-pasal' means for no cause, no rhyme or reason, no fault of their own
- 'kena' means to get it, to be targetted, in this case cows and pigs being dragged into the name-calling mud
Selected response from:

Bashir Basalamah
Singapore
Local time: 06:25
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3dragged into the mud for no rhyme or reason
Bashir Basalamah


  

Answers


1 day 12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
dragged into the mud for no rhyme or reason


Explanation:
this is colloquial Malay:
- 'pasal' means cause, issue, fault, so 'tak pasal-pasal' means for no cause, no rhyme or reason, no fault of their own
- 'kena' means to get it, to be targetted, in this case cows and pigs being dragged into the name-calling mud

Bashir Basalamah
Singapore
Local time: 06:25
Native speaker of: Native in MalayMalay
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Fabio M. Caldas: After doing my research (asking native speakers), I can only agree with Mr. Bashir.
4 days

agree  julidiawati
5 days

agree  Beng Suan Toh
8 days
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