Press Statement By Michael Kong:
On 31.07.2020, DAP raised the issue about the missing Chinese characters from the newly replaced road signs at Kota Sentosa. This statement garnered the attention of a signification portion of the public and was also picked up by the local press and republished in Sin Chew Daily News on 01.08.2020.
We are pleased to hear that on 05.08.2020, the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council has replaced the road signs with those bearing Chinese characters.
In view of the frequently asserted claim of being a champion for the minority in particular the Chinese community by SUPP, I hope that Dr Sim Kui Hian as the Minister of Local Government and Housing, Penguang Manggil as the Assistant Minister together with the relevant authorities will be more sensitive towards the sentiments of all Sarawakians in the future.
This is not the end of the matter because there are many more road signs throughout Sarawak facing the very same issue. This exhibits a systemic and chronic disease which the Ministry of Local Government and Housing should tackle. I urge Dr Sim Kui Hian, and all the local councils throughout Sarawak to look at all the road signs and change all the single lingual road signs. As the government of the day, they must do their utmost best in the interest of our fellow Sarawakians.
The lingering question is why in the first place did the State government allow the replacement of dual-lingual road signs with single lingual road sign? Is there any personal agenda behind such move by the local councils against the stand of the minister? Dr Sim Kui Hian and Penguang Manggil should look into the matter and give an account for the incident.
Michael Kong Feng Nian
Special Assistant to YB Chong Chieng Jen
