DBKU: Cops to investigate road-sign vandalism by members of DAPSY Kuching
KUCHING: The Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) will leave it to the police to investigate the act of vandalism by several youth members of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kuching, who affixed Chinese characters onto several road signs across the city centre recently.
Photos of them doing this have since gone viral on social media.
Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said a police report regarding the incident was lodged at the city’s central police station at around 3pm on Thursday, and a statement was also recorded at the district police headquarters.
“We will let the police complete the investigations and inform us about the findings before we take the next course of actions,” he said during a special press conference called at DBKU Library in Majma Mall here yesterday.
Dr Abdul Rahman said the act by members of DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Kuching who affixed Chinese characters onto the road signs at Wayang Street, Jalan Main Bazaar and Jalan Greenhill, had contravened Section 103(3) of Local Authorities Ordinance 1996 and also By-Law 22, Local Authorities (Cleanliness) By-law, 1999.
In a press statement, DBKU director Dr Moshidi Ahmad said such action would be investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code (Act 527).
“Members of the public had informed the DBKU about a group of youths in red shirts sticking Chinese characters onto road signs without permission. Such actions could be classified as vandalism in areas under the jurisdiction of DBKU,” said Dr Abdul Rahman, adding that DBKU officials had inspected the road signs and confirmed that the such act did take place without any permission granted by the city commission.
In this regard, the assistant minister viewed the act as not only disrespecting the existing laws in place and the local authorities, but also wanting to ‘challenge the DBKU to take action against them under existing laws’.
Based on the information obtained from Morshidi, Dr Abdul Rahman said neither DAP nor DAPSY had ever approached DBKU to call for any discussion or meetings regarding the matter.
“DBKU advises the individuals involved to take down the Chinese characters from the road signs immediately, and also to make a public apology,” said Dr Abdul Rahman, hoping that such provocative act would never happen again.
He also said he would discuss with Datuk Bandar of Kuching
North Datu Junaidi Reduan and Morshidi on the next course of action by DBKU enforcement unit once the police had completed their investigation.
Adding on, Dr Abdul Rahman said there were many languages being used in Sarawak such as Iban and Bidayuh languages, in addition to the Jawi script.
He said in view of it being the national language as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, Bahasa Malaysia should be the only language to be used for road signs in areas under DBKU’s jurisdiction.
“However, DBKU has always maintained an open mind to receive suggestions from the public in all areas. This said, I hope the people would respect DBKU’s decisions as it has the final say,” said Dr Abdul Rahman.
Meanwhile, Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen who is also DAP Sarawak chairman, said the party would render its full cooperation, in accordance to the laws of the council and any other relevant authority. He also gave his assurance that the DAPSY Kuching members would face the consequences of their actions.
“We (DAP Sarawak) are ready to cooperate with DBKU in resolving this road sign issue,” said Chong.