Chinese Characters on Some Shah Alam Signs Spray-Painted Black, MBSA Begins Taking Them Down

Earlier this week, Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issued a royal decree instructing all signboards in Shah Alam that had Chinese characters to be replaced with Bahasa Malaysia. The Sultan instructed that this should be completed before his birthday on 11th December this year.

In response to this, Shah Alam MP and Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad stated that the Selangor State government made the decision to put up these dual language signs. However, he added that the decision to take them down needs to be respected as it was based on a royal decree.

Source: the star

He was quoted by the Malaysian Gazette as saying,

“If the Sultan has issued a decree, we need to obey it. I think there should be discussions at the state level, state assembly and local authority.”

Now, according to a report by the Malay Mail, several of these roads signs have either been spray painted black or neatly blocked out with green paint. According to the daily, it is not confirmed if the signs blocked out with green paint were done by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).

Shah Alam's dual-language signs defaced, as council slammed for wasting money https://t.co/uW7mkeAOZI

On some, the Chinese characters were just covered neatly, maybe by @sacitycouncil following the royal decree. Some Malay residents have also cried provocation & conspiracy. pic.twitter.com/DmANSE1gJ1

— Zurairi A.R. (@zurairi) November 21, 2018

However, MBSA did announce on Twitter yesterday (20th November) that they have already begun taking the signs down. 

[MAKLUMAN] Pihak MBSA ingin memaklumkan kerja-kerja menanggalkan papan tanda jalan yang mempunyai tulisan Cina sedang dilakukan oleh pihak MBSA. pic.twitter.com/eUSbAgKkop

— MBSA (@sacitycouncil) November 20, 2018

News of this move sparked mixed reactions among Malaysians. While some approved of the signs to stick to Malay, others argued that replacing the signs was a waste of money and resources.

Source: facebook

Source: facebook

Source: facebook

Source: facebook

Also read: Sultan Selangor Orders Signboards in Shah Alam to Be Changed From Chinese to Malay