LATELY, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been going down hard on Chinese restaurants for putting up signage where Chinese characters featured prominently on it.
The rationale behind it was that the national language, or Bahasa Melayu, must take precedence as stated in the law.
However, Malaysians are having mixed reactions towards the heavy-handed approach.
Recently, Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing even mentioned that tourists are having the impression that Malaysia is a racist country due to the action against Chinese-lettered signage.
And now the Malaysian Chinese Restaurant Association has come forth to state that Chinese restaurants are facing rising costs due to crackdown.
In a post on X by MalaysiaKini, the group was reported saying, “The cost pressure brought by the signage enforcement actions cannot be ignored. From the design and production to the installation of new signage, every step imposes financial burdens on businesses, particularly amid rising ingredient and labour costs.”
The Malaysian Chinese Restaurant Association (MCRA) claimed that businesses are facing escalating operational costs due to Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) crackdown on signages.
“The cost pressure brought by the signage enforcement actions cannot be ignored. From the design and… pic.twitter.com/p2QwidLF5m
— malaysiakini.com (@malaysiakini) November 25, 2024
Feedback from Malaysian netizens with regards to this statement is equally interesting.
Bae Inhyuk’s Dimples suggested that these restaurants write on their signage, “Pig Pau,” in huge letters. “Let’s see how these people will react instead,” he said.
Netizen louis makes a pertinent point too, after all it takes both hands to clap.
Perhaps the authorities are enjoying under-the-table money to turn a blind eye all these years? Now this is an interesting allegation.
Another netizen agreed with DBKL, but suggested that word “pig” be placed on the signage including images, likely for shock value for the so-called conservative crowd.
MSS said the cost for signage was a one off thing, that it should not be a burden to the restaurants as claimed by the MCRA.
Annoyed Malaysian, however, offered a balanced view.
The DBKL crackdown on these restaurants are understandable as they are “violating” the law. But isn’t the law created to benefit the people in the first place.
Those Chinese restaurants may cause confusion to Muslim diners by having their signage in huge Malay words.
In essence, the signage in Chinese-letters is actually a great thing since they practically broadcast, “Muslim’s don’t eat here. Not halal!”
Also perhaps DBKL could utilise their already stretched budget and meager resources on the matters that truly matter.
Remember those life-endangering potholes that are popping out everywhere? Here’s an obvious hint. —Nov 26, 2024
Main image: DBKL (Facebook)
