By Malcolm Lau
KUCHING, Aug 21: Police called in Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Kuching chairwoman Daphne Ting for investigation for putting up Chinese characters on road signs on Friday afternoon.
“We will give full cooperation to the police during the investigation,” DAP Sarawak Chairman, Chong Chieng Jen said at Simpang Tiga Police Station on Friday at 4.30pm.
According to Chong, there was no ill intention to raise racial disharmony when they put the Chinese name on the roadsigns as dual-lingual roadsigns had existed in Sarawak for many years.
“About two weeks ago, two road signs had been replaced with a single-lingual road signs,” Chong said.
“We have raised the issue to the Stakan council, which is under Kota Samarahan Council and two days later, the council restored the dual-lingual roadsigns,” Chong added.
Chong said that the multilingual roadsigns is something special in Sarawak as it is a tradition which also portrays the state’s multiculturalism.
“Some of the roadsigns in the Main Bazaar area had been replaced with single-lingual roadsigns,” Chong said.
He also said that the issue had been raised to Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) but no actions had been taken by them.
“I believed that multilingual roadsigns is in line with the State Government Policies and we would like to have it maintain. It is done with good intent to keep the special tradition in Sarawak,” Chong noted.
“As for whether they had violated the laws of the council, we are prepared to face any consequences. We will wait for the announcement from the council and will give full cooperation in accordance to the law, relevant authorities,” Chong added.
Chong pointed out that it was a good intention to preserve the multiculturalism in Sarawak.
Also present were Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.—DayakDaily
