Road signages: DAP Kuching urges DBKU to reconsider decision

DAP Kuching secretary Bernard Chin.

KUCHING, Aug 28:  Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kuching branch expresses disappointment over the decision of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) to turn down its request to have Chinese road names on road signs.

Its branch secretary Bernard Chin called on DBKU to reconsider its decision.

“Regardless of the one language policy for road signages in the city, we hope that DBKU can reconsider the decision and focus on the greater impact and changes that will bring to the society in a long term,” said Chin a press statement today.

In reference to the late chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s directive to “promote multiracial and cultural values in the states”, Sarawak DAP has made the effort and requested to add Chinese characters to road signs in the city.

“As a multiracial and multicultural society, we see the importance to maintain and enhance the unity among people of different ethnics. The most commonly used method to promote the concept is through social media, by the means of televisions, newspaper and radio, which has played an important role in promoting government’s ideology and policies.

“Similarly, we see that the inclusion of Chinese characters on road signs are an initiative to promote and understand the acceptance of other ethnic culture.

“As a Sarawakian, the importance of accepting the differences we have as a multiracial state is important for the sake of harmony. We have managed to maintain unity in diversity among our people despite the fast paced development that the world is currently facing.

“We live harmoniously in Sarawak because being Sarawakians means acceptance and coexisting,” said Chin.

Chinese characters on road sign has become an issue after DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) took the law in their own hands by pasting Chinese characters on road signs when their request to DBKU was turned down.

DBKU explained that there are about 40 ethnic groups within Sarawak.  It could not give in to the demand of one ethnic group lest other ethnic groups would also make the same demand.

As such, all road names in DBKU jurisdiction will only be displayed in the national language, Bahasa Malaysia, as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.-DayakDaily