Syed Saddiq: Categorically opposes removal of Chinese signage in Muar

PETALING JAYA (September 6): Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman today expressed an objection towards the "forceful removal" of local retailers’ trademark signage by the local council, as reported by Malaysiakini.

His comments follow news reports of Muar Municipal Council officers instructing shop owners in the district to erase Chinese-letterings on pillars and signs, due to the size of the words being bigger than the signs in Malay. 

"I categorically oppose the forceful removal of the Mandarin (Chinese-lettered) trademark.

"Muar’s beauty is its diversity and we should protect that at all cost.

"The Mandarin trademark is also the living history of Muar, which has been there for more than half a century," Syed Saddiq, who is also youth and sports minister, said in a statement that was cited by the news portal.

Chinese daily Sin Chew reported yesterday, that local council officers had visited the shop operators on Tuesday, with instructions to remove their signage. 

Some of the shop owners had been operating their businesses for decades. 

According to the report by the Chinese daily, officers said the signs violated local advertising laws, and carried fines of a maximum of RM2,000 or a jail-term of two years, or both. 

The violation could also carry a fine of RM200 for each day the signage is not removed.

State executive councillor Tan Hong Pin is expected to address the issue at a press conference today.