By Neil Brian Joseph
Controversial signboard long removed still a subject of online debate
KOTA KINABALU: The recent viral photo of a signboard in the Kota Kinabalu Central Market, which had drawn criticisms from netizens for using the Bajau and Suluk language, has turned out to be an old issue that was resolved way back in September 2016.
The photo, which showed a signboard with a ‘do not spit’ warning was recirculated on Whatsapp and Facebook earlier this week.
The warning came in five different languages, namely Malay, English, Chinese, Bajau and Suluk.
This did not rest well with the netizens as some of them had questioned why other local languages such as Dusun were omitted from the signboard.
Some even blamed the Warisan-led state government, accusing the latter of inciting racial propaganda.
Based on a report by The Borneo Post (dated September 23, 2016), it was stated that City Hall had removed the controversial signboard due to backlash from the public.
It was further stated that, City Hall’s (then) director-general Joannes Solidau proceeded to remove the signboard.
It is understood that the previous signboard was proposed by the Consumerism Task Force Committee chaired by Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, who was the Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs at that time.
The report went on to state that the rationale behind the inclusion of the two languages on the signboard was due to the fact that they are the languages of the main races that frequent or occupy the Central Market.
In view of this, several netizens had started sharing the said news report online to point out that the issue had been solved long ago.