No one should let road signs mar Sarawak’s harmony — Lo
KUCHING: No one should be allowed to use road signs to mar the harmony of the different races in Sarawak, opined Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman chided the Democratic Action Party (DAP) for politicising road signs and sparking debate with racial undertones.
Lo was commenting on DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak members affixing Chinese characters on road signs in the city centre on Thursday, without the local authority’s approval.
“This issue sparks a lot of unnecessary debate with racial undertones on social media, which is so unSarawak.
“We don’t need such political games here so DAP, a peninsulabased party, can do what they want in Peninsular Malaysia instead of bringing in such toxic tactics,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“We are a multiracial state and we have a great example to show to the rest of Malaysia and even the world of our unique harmony. So why spoil it?”
Lo pointed out that DAP Sarawak should not forget that the state comprised many ethnic groups.
“Let us be thankful and appreciate what we are enjoying. Let us remind ourselves not to take the peace and harmony in Sarawak for granted,” he stressed.
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) assistant publicity and information secretary said using the issue merely for political mileage ‘a stupid act indeed’. He pointed out there are road signs with Chinese characters across Sarawak.
“Padawan also has those and it is good to have (bilingual road signs) since overseas Chinese tourists are a huge market potential. No one should drag this issue into a political one.
“The councils take note of all public requests and act on them where appropriate. So DAP don’t try to be clever and take things into your own hands. Don’t bring this kind of political culture into harmonious Sarawak,” Lo added.
Meanwhile, SUPP Women’s chief Kho Teck Wan, who is a Kuching South City Council (MBKS) councillor, said Dapsy Sarawak was setting a bad example for the community by affixing Chinese characters to road signs without the approval of the authorities.
“There were occasions when the road signs with Chinese characters were changed, and the Chinese characters were dropped.
“However, when notified by the public, the respective city or district councils would rectify the mistake immediately. We are government by rules and there is a proper channel to lodge complaints and requests,” she said in a statement.
Kho chided Julian Tan for the ‘publicity stunt’ as she said the former Stampin MP should know better than to break the law.
“Changing road signs can cause serious consequences,” she claimed.
Pointing out that Sarawak is a model of harmony and unity, Kho questioned what message Dapsy Sarawak was trying to send.
“Have they been ill-treated or denied of their rights in Sarawak? Their immature action tarnished Sarawak’s image and can cause racial tension,” she added.