A word of caution: DON'T FALL PREY TO UMNO'S DIVIDE AND RULE TACTICS...
They are using Gerakan to do their dirty works all for the sake of "Malay
unity". What they are actually promoting is UMNO's brand of "unity". So,
Malaysians of all races should not get caught in this UMNO trap.
*Gerakan been control Penang for more than 30years, why now only put up the
chinese signboard!
To All Malaysian,
Pls cool down... BN/UMNO/MCA/GERAKAN start to work out something to split PR
confident. SUddenly this Gerakan so good to put in chinese signboard...-to make
malay hate chinese and vote back UMNO . We heard PAS/UMNO meeting, to split
confident to PAS. You see that!
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KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- Unnecessary. That has been the general
reaction to the move by a group of Gerakan members to put up road signs in
Chinese in Penang Monday.
While some view the move as an exercise in futility, other see it as an attempt
to challenge the position of Malay as the national language.
The group put up the signs at the Beach Street as well as at Burmah Road,
Macalister Road, Carnarvon Street, Chulia Street and Jalan C. Y. Choy.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Federal Constitution
had stated it clearly that Malay is the national language.
"All official signs, therefore, should be in Malay. This is part of the social
contract agreed upon by our forefathers and I hope no one will try to challenge
that," Azalina told Bernama when contacted.
She reminded those involved that the Malays had already compromised many things
for the sake of unity but their patience had its limit.
Azalina also regretted the use of the "Visit Malaysia" logo without permission.
"We will see what action we can take in connection with the misuse of the
logo," she said.
Malay language expert Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Karim said she
could not agree with the action as it was tantamount to eroding the country's
national identity.
"A country must have its own identity and Malay is the national language. Why
should we elevate other languages to be on par with the national language?" she
asked.
Nik Safiah said even though the group claimed that the move was for the benefit
of tourists, it should not be done at the expense of the national language.
"I don't think road signs in Malay are difficult to read as they are written in
Roman. Even if tourists have problems understanding them, their guides will be
able to explain the meaning. They can also ask the locals," she told Bernama.
She said those involved in putting up the road signs in Chinese should pause
for a while and ponder which one was more important -- safeguarding the
country's national identity or the other interests that they want to promote..
Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) secretary-general Mohd Nordin
Awang said those involved should be clear about the position of the Malay
language.
"All the while, there have been no problem with road signs in Malay. Why now?"
he said, adding that the move had no justification whatsoever as it was merely
for political purposes.
"Are the road signs a pressing issue or is there other motives behind it?" he
asked.
Mohd Nordin said throughout Malaysia's 51 years of nationhood, there had been
no problems or conflict arising from road signs.
He said the action could also hurt the feelings of the Malays and affect the
harmonious relations among the people.
MCA Youth secretary-general who is also Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka
Siong said the road signs should not be made an issue.
In a multi-racial country, there was nothing wrong if other languages were used
as road signs, he said. "I don't think this is a deliberate attempt to offend
the sensitivities of any group," he said.
In Penang, local government, traffic management and environment executive
councillor Chow Kon Yeow said the committee would send notice to Gerakan asking
the party to remove the sign.
He said the state government had its own plan to put up multilingual road signs
in certain places, particularly within the heritage site.
"We will apply to the local councils asking them to increase the number of road
signs in languages other than Malay such as Mandarin, Tamil, English and Arabic
for the benefit of tourists," he told a news conference.
He said the federal government had approved an allocation to put up
multilingual road signs in the island's heritage area.
Balik Pulau Umno division chief Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the state Barisan
Nasional had never discussed the move by Gerakan Youth.
He said such action should be stopped, lest it become a trend.
"Today it will be Gerakan. Tommorow, other parties may also put up their road
signs."
Tanjong Umno Youth chief Shaharrudin Hassan, meanwhile demanded that Malay
should be the language for all road signs in the area.
"We are not satisfied with the action. We want the road signs to be in Malay,"
he said.
-- BERNAMA
