Annuar Musa Takes Down Non-Bahasa Melayu Billboard, Malaysians Have Mixed Reactions

You’d think being the month of Patriotism, the racial problems in our country would take a short break but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Federal Territories Minister, Annuar Musa took to his Twitter on 5 September to complain about a billboard that was entirely in the Chinese language.

Billboard ini telah di turunkan..semua papan iklan diWP mesti mendaulatkan BAHASA KEBANGSAAN..Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa pic.twitter.com/fcxEYj0kPl

— Annuar Musa (@AnnuarMusa) September 5, 2020

“The billboard has been taken down. All billboards in the Federal Territory must uphold National Language. Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa!”

He felt that all billboards in the Federal Territory should only be in Bahasa Melayu. Bernama reported that any party wanting to install a billboard in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur needs to get it vetted by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) on the correct usage of Bahasa Melayu.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said that other languages CAN be used but must be accompanied by key Bahasa Melayu phrases but unfortunately there was a non-compliance with the approval given.

Netizens have had mixed reactions to this issue with some supporting the minister while others felt like it was an overreaction.

“Well done. The National Language is enshrined in the constitution. Hope all billboards across the country only use the National Language. All billboards that use languages ​​other than the national language should be taken down.”

Some netizens felt that this issue was unimportant as there were many other more pressing issues happening in the country that was bigger than a billboard.

TS, siapa pegawai yang meluluskan billboard ini?

Adakah tindakan dalaman akan diambil terhadap pegawai tersebut kerana tidak mengikut SOP?

Mana mungkin mereka berani naikkan billboard kalau tidak ada kelulusan kan? https://t.co/XOJ2futT5h

— DSSR (@SanjeevanSS) September 6, 2020

“Tan Sri, who’s the officer that approved this billboard. Will an internal disciplinary action be taken towards the officer for not following necessary SOPs? How could they even put up the billboard in the first place if they had no approval?”

Was the minister’s action necessary or was it a mere overreaction? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section!

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