MALAYSIA, 19/10/2024 (Asia News Chanenls) - Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has called for the prioritization of Bahasa Malaysia on business signboards in Kuala Lumpur, emphasizing its status as the national language.
During visits to shopping complexes in the capital, Dr. Mahathir observed that many signboards predominantly featured Chinese characters, accompanied by English translations, with no representation of Bahasa Malaysia.
“Weekends, I drive around Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes, I drop in at the shopping complexes. Kuala Lumpur's shopping complexes are great. The new ones are fantastic. They are bigger and better than those in London or Tokyo. But suddenly, I felt I was in China. Then I realized why. All the signboards are in Chinese with English translations. Nothing in Bahasa Malaysia. Not at all,” he said.
Dr. Mahathir attributed this trend to the increasing number of Chinese tourists but argued that Bahasa Malaysia must take precedence. “Translation in small characters, yes. But our national language is Bahasa Malaysia,” he added.
The Advertisements (Federal Territories) By-Laws 1982 mandate that all advertisements must be in the national language, with provisions allowing other languages as long as the Bahasa Malaysia text is more prominent and larger.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has previously acknowledged the issue, stating that while creativity is encouraged, some business owners have overused other languages. It noted that while registered trademarks need not be translated, all other texts on business signboards must prioritize Bahasa Malaysia and adhere to font size requirements.
Dr. Mahathir's remarks have reignited discussions on ensuring that the national language retains its prominence in public and commercial spaces.
-- ASIA NEWS CHANNELS