Video of vandalised dual language road sign goes viral

PETALING JAYA: A video showing an individual spraying black paint on a dual language road sign in Shah Alam has gone viral in WhatsApp groups.

According to Sinar Harian, it is believed that the individual vandalised the road sign as there were people questioning the use of road signs which also featured Chinese characters, and that it was disrespectful to Bahasa Melayu as the national language.

Nama Jalan di Shah Alam Akan Ditukarkan Daripada Tulisan Cina Kepada Bahasa Melayu...: https://t.co/dxrtObyKHE via @YouTube — Mr. L Channel (@mrlchannel) November 21, 2018

MBSA corporate communications head Shahrin Ahmad said that the council had adhered to the decree of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to replace road signs to show Bahasa Melayu only.

"Immediate action will be taken to remove the (vandalised) road sign in the area. The replacement work will be carried out in stages and is expected to be completed soon," he was quoted by the Malay daily.

The report also quoted District OCPD Asst Comm Baharudin Mat Taib that the police have yet to receive any report of vandalism.

A photo of a road sign in Pekan Subang with Chinese characters made its rounds on social media, sparking heated comments and debates among many Malaysians.

Most comments on Facebook called for the use of Bahasa Melayu only on all road signs.

The Selangor Ruler, in a decree on Monday, wanted all road signs in Shah Alam to be changed before his 73rd birthday on Dec 11.

The decree was made known through his private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Banir.

"We will uphold the decree and replace the road signs, which included Chinese characters, with those in the Malay language only," said Shahrin.