KUALA LUMPUR: A shouting match broke out in the Dewan Rakyat after lawmakers traded barbs over the recent viral signboard issue.
This comes after Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) alleged that recent remarks made by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing on this had stoked sentiments.
“I also appeal for the Madani administration to transfer the Tourism Minister to another ministry with purview over enforcement matters.
“Let him conduct raids and more, as it’s more suitable,” she said when debating Budget 2025 on Monday (Nov 23).
She also claimed stores in other countries like Thailand and Indonesia did not use signboards featuring foreign languages.
“So why must we do this in Malaysia? Foreign tourists do not even pay attention to the language used. They will still patronise the shops,” she said.
“The minister should retract his remarks on this and focus on uplifting our national culture instead,” she added.
Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) however raised the House’s standing order, arguing that Mas Ermieyati’s remarks were misleading the house.
“Under the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s guidelines, Chinese, Tamil and English signboards are permitted with the condition that Bahasa Malaysia is also included,” he said.
Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) then interjected and asked if DAP did not recognise Bahasa Malaysia, with Chong demanding Awang retract his statement.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau called for things to settle down and ordered Awang Hashim to leave the House temporarily.
“Matters raised by Masjid Tanah can be answered by the deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister later,” said Lau.
On Sunday (Nov 24), Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong said the enforcement by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on some signboards could tarnish Malaysia's image as a diverse and multicultural nation.
It was reported last month that DBKL issued a 14-day notice to five premises to take down their signboards for not upholding the national language.
In a Facebook post, City Hall said that the signboards had breached the Small Signboards (FT) 1982 Bylaws for sidelining Bahasa Malaysia.
It also showed examples of signboards that only featured Bahasa Malaysia in small wording.
To this, Tiong had said foreign tourists had asked him about DBKL's operation on several premises in the nation's capital, adding that bilingual signboards not only reflect Malaysia's international friendliness but also form a core element of the country's cultural appeal.
