In Malaysia, non-Malay language billboards are becoming a political hot potato

HOW RACE CAME INTO THE MIX

Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing amplified the issue when he spoke out against DBKL’s actions, labeling them extreme and claiming that tourists questioned the country’s openness and inclusiveness.

“There were some international visitors who asked me if Malaysia is a racist country or is it extreme,” he said in a Facebook post on November 24.

The placard issue comes after an uproar over the waving of Chinese flags during a cultural event at an event in Teluk Intan, Perak last month, and Mr Tiong claimed it could have a negative impact on tourism in the country.

The Star reported that in the first eight months of this year, Malaysia received 2.29 million Chinese tourists, a 160 percent increase over the same period last year.

The issue of the billboards has also reached parliament, with Masjid Tanah Mas MP Ermieyati Samsudin saying Mr Tiong has a responsibility as minister responsible for culture to defend Malaysia’s national language.

She questioned why her ministry’s target of five million Chinese tourists for the year is far from being met, despite the money spent to attract tourists from the country.

Many other Malay politicians also criticized Mr Tiong for his statements on the issue.

Political scientist Dr. Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) told CNA that the issue was blown up after the media highlighted the Kuala Lumpur headquarters, which caters specifically to Chinese customers.

“Add Mahathir’s comments about KL malls, then it became a political issue,” she said.

“The focus is on the Chinese language because of Malays’ fear of Malaysia’s supposed encroachment into China due to China’s economic talents over other groups. China’s recent announcement to host the Lunar New Year (holiday) in Malaysia further adds to this narrative,” she said.

Mr Tiong announced on Nov 25 that China had chosen Malaysia to host the first Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration held outside the country in January 2025.

Dr. Syaza added that the government should do more to manage the racial narrative in Malaysia and prevent the culture wars from escalating.

“The Chinese community feels they are being targeted, the Malays see the rejection from the Chinese as showing their ‘disloyalty’, and this can easily get worse. The government must step in now,” she said.

Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa reportedly called on “all parties, including politicians, to stop fueling this controversy” on Friday (29 November).

“We have many important agendas that need attention and playing on racial sentiments like this will only create division and polarization among the public,” she said, as reported by news portal Free Malaysia Today.

DBKL has issued 264 notices and taken action against 36 premises so far this year for non-compliant billboards, she said.

This is not the first controversy surrounding language boards in Malaysia.

In 2020, Pahang began cracking down on business owners who did not use Jawi on their signs after Pahang Regent Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said in 2018 that the Jawi script should be used widely used on road signs. business premises, office boards, government agencies and all education offices.

Violators could be fined up to RM250 ($56) and have their business licenses revoked.

Two businessmen from the state challenged the rule but lost their bid in 2023, with the court ruling that there was “no irrationality, unreasonableness or illegality” in the Kuantan Municipal Council’s directive.

Asked whether Malaysia’s language laws for billboards should be strengthened, Mr Fernandez said different states may have different requirements and state assemblies have the power to enact their own laws.