What do you think of the name Port Dickson? A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is launching a petition to change the name of Port Dickson to something else.
NGOs want Port Dickson to be renamed Pantai Dermaga, and have launched a petition in an effort to remove colonial names from the national identity.
NGOs launch a petition to change the name of Port Dickson to Pantai Dermaga
The NGOs involved are the Malaysian Identity Empowerment Organisation (Identiti), Islamic Defenders Organisations (Pembela), Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), Gabungan Nasionalis (GN), and the Malay Consultative Council (MPM).
Islah Wahyudi Zainudin, the chairman of Identiti, said that based on history, the district was formerly a Malay village known as Tanjung Kemuning, before it was seized by the British Governor, Dickson, in 1889, who changed its name to Port Dickson.
“Many do not know that Dickson seized Tanjung Kemuning, a Malay village that has now completely disappeared. The only evidence of Kampung Bahasa Kapor’s legacy today is an old mosque, the Port Dickson Kampung Bahasa Kapor Old Mosque, located near the Port Dickson District Police Headquarters.
Islah highlighted that it’s not an act that Malaysians should be proud of.
“The name of the coloniser is being elevated to become our country’s identity. To me, this is something that is not right. Not when Malaysia has been independent from British colonialists for 68 years,” he told Sinar Harian.
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“Why did the efforts to remove colonial names stop?”
Islah pointed out that efforts to remove colonial names have actually begun since the beginning of independence, for example,
- North Borneo was changed to Sabah (1963)
- Jesselton to Kota Kinabalu (1965)
- Port Swettenham to Port Klang (1972)
- Province Wellesley to Seberang Perai (1972)
- Telok Anson to Teluk Intan (1982)
- Port Weld to Kuala Sepetang (1982)
Islah, however, is baffled that the efforts have stopped, saying that it is disappointing that many names associated with the colonialists remain in the country’s geographical identity.
They even called it “the prostitution of the Bahasa Melayu” due to the violation of the National Language Act and the Local Government Act, which requires the use of the official language to be given priority in terms of position, size and colour over other languages
He also urged the state government to clarify whether the identity of Negeri Sembilan is still based on Malay culture as enshrined in the State Constitution, or has been tainted with foreign elements.
Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun had previously responded to the proposal, questioning why Port Dickson is being targeted during a time when he is asking all parties to be more open. He further said that if Port Dickson’s name is changed, all other names in Malaysia should be changed too.
So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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