HOW RACE ENTERED THE MIX
Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing magnified the issue when he spoke up against DBKL’s actions, labelling them extreme and claiming that tourists have questioned the openness and inclusivity of the country.
“There have been some international visitors who have asked me if Malaysia is a racist country or is extreme,” he said in a Facebook post on Nov 24.
The signboard issue follows an uproar over the waving of Chinese flags during a cultural event at an event in Teluk Intan, Perak last month, and Mr Tiong claimed that it could have a negative impact on tourism in the country.
The Star reported that in the first eight months of this year, Malaysia welcomed 2.29 million Chinese tourists, a 160 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The signboard issue also made its way to the parliament, with Masjid Tanah Member of Parliament (MP) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin saying Mr Tiong had a responsibility as the minister in charge of culture to defend Malaysia’s national language.
She questioned why his ministry’s target of five million Chinese tourists for the year was a long way from being met, despite money being spent to draw tourists from the country.
Many other Malay politicians also criticised Mr Tiong for his statements on the issue.
Political scientist Dr Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) told CNA that the issue was blown up after the media put the spotlight on Kuala Lumpur’s premises catering to Chinese customers specifically.
“Add on Mahathir’s comments on KL malls, then it became a political issue,” she said.
“The focus is on the Chinese language because of the Malay fear of supposed China-fication of Malaysia because of Chinese economic prowess vis-a-vis other groups. The recent announcement of China to host the lunar new year (celebration) in Malaysia further adds to this narrative,” she said.
Mr Tiong announced on Nov 25 that China had chosen Malaysia to host its first-ever Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration held outside of the country in Jan 2025.
Dr Syaza added that the government should do more to manage the racial narrative in Malaysia and prevent cultural wars from worsening.
“The Chinese community feels they are targeted, the Malays feel that pushback by Chinese shows their ‘disloyalty’, and this can easily become worse. The government needs to step in now,” she said.
On Friday (Nov 29), Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa reportedly urged “all parties, including politicians, to stop fuelling this controversy”.
“We have many important agendas that require attention, and playing on racial sentiments like this will only create division and polarisation among the public,” she said, as reported by news portal Free Malaysia Today.
DBKL has issued 264 notices and taken action against 36 premises so far this year for non-compliant signboards, she said.
This is not the first language-related signboard controversy in Malaysia.
In 2020, Pahang began taking action against business owners who did not use Jawi on their signboards after the regent of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said in 2018 that the Jawi script should be used widely on road signage, business premises, office signs, government agencies and all education offices.
Those who flouted the rules could be fined of up to RM250 (US$56) and have their business licences revoked.
Two businessmen from the state challenged the rule but lost their bid in 2023, with the court ruling there was “no irrationality, or unreasonableness or unlawfulness” in the directive by the Kuantan Municipal Council.
Asked if Malaysia’s language laws for signboards should be consolidated, Mr Fernandez said different states may have different requirements, and that state assemblies have the power to enact their own laws.
