IPOH, 8 Dec 2008: Ipoh Timur Umno today expressed opposition to a proposal by Canning state assemblyperson Wong Kah Woh to have the road signs in Taman Cempaka here replaced with multilingual signs.
Ipoh Timur Umno head Datuk Azian Osman said Wong’s suggestion was contrary to the Federal Constitution and showed disrespect for Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.
“Ipoh Timur Umno strongly opposes the proposal. We feel intimidated by his arbitrary action without consideration for the sensitivities of the people,” he told reporters after attending an Aidil Adha sacrificial slaughter ceremony in Kampung Tok Cendang.
Wong was reported to have said that Taman Cempaka would be the first area in Perak to have signs in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, Tamil and Jawi.
Azian said the multilingual signs were unnecessary because Taman Cempaka was not a tourist attraction.
He said the residents of the housing estate were locals who have no problems with the existing Bahasa Malaysia road signs.
Azian also questioned a statement by Perak senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, also from the DAP, who had said that the issue should not be politicised as language was a communication tool and that the move to have multilingual signs was a private sector initiative.
“I ask the menteri besar (Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin) and the state government to be level-headed and respect the Federal Constitution,” he said. — Bernama
