KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants local authorities nationwide to fully use their powers to enforce use of the national language.
Local authorities should no longer tolerate any party that undermines the use of the Malay language as it is the official language as stipulated in Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, the Bera MP and Umno politician said.
“Therefore, there is no option not to use the language of the federation on signboards or in business in the country,” he said a statement.
“I propose that stricter action be taken against those who do not use the Malay language on signboards as well as those who belittle the use of the national language.
“We have been an independent nation for over half a century.
“There is no reason for us to remain stuck in the rhetoric of language disputes because it is clear that the Malay language is the official language of Malaysia,” Ismail Sabri said.
He also said use of the Malay language on signboards would not affect tourists, citing Thailand as an example of a country that attracts a high number of visitors despite the use of Thai on all its signboards.
The issue of signboards in other languages has seen heated debates in Parliament recently.
It started last month when Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had issued 20 fault notices and 10 enforcement notices to shop owners for “using languages other than the national language in an excessive manner” from Jan till Oct 16 this year.
On Nov 18, former two-time prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned why shops were allowed to install signboards that did not use the Malay language, after visiting one of the newer shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur.
Last week, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing hit out at Mahathir for his criticism of signboards in Chinese, saying such remarks could affect the country’s diversity and tourism industry.
DBKL has since clarified that the enforcement of regulations for bilingual signboards was in accordance with laws and regulations regarding the country’s official language.
This, the local authority said, includes the Advertisement (Federal Territories) By-Laws 1982 and the Local Government Act 1976, which among others require that all business signboards and advertisements be in the national language.
While they may also include other languages, the written words in the national language must take precedence and be larger than the words in other languages. – November 26, 2024