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‘Fed govt has no right to act
against states over road signs
THE federal government has no right to act against
state governments that opt for multilingual road
signages, Deputy Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Robert Lau said.
In his reply to a supplementary question from
Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak)
on the form of action against such state govern-
ments, Lau clarified that it is the right of local and
state governments to decide on languages to be
used for road signages.
“Article 152 of the Federal Constitution affirms
Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, but the
same clause does not restrict the use of other
languages. Anyway, the national language should
be given emphasis and priority for official purposes,
including for use on road signages,” he said.
Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), who is also
the Penang chief minister, said Kuala Lumpur
City Hall’s initiative to include Arabic on its road
signages without objection from the public was
an effort to internationalise the city as well as the
country.
“So, can the deputy minister explain whether
the effort by the Penang government to enlarge
Malay wordings together with other languages
such as Arabic, Mandarin and Tamil to reflect
Penang as a heritage city, is actually a way
of showing social harmony in Malaysia?” Lim
asked.
Lau said that as a lawsuit had been filed
against the state government and Penang Island
Municipal Council and an injunction applied for to
stop the use of multilingual road signages, “it is
inappropriate for the ministry to comment as the
courts have yet to hear the cases”.
Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) and
M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) insisted that
Lau state his own stand on the matter but were
not successful.
The Penang government had decided in July
to put up multilingual road signages in the state’s
heritage areas for the benefit of tourists and other
visitors.
The move was criticised by Barisan Nasional
backbenchers who described the decision as
“disrespectful to the nation’s social contract”.
Giam Say Khoon and Tan Yi Liang at the Dewan Rakyat
Demos will not
influence English
policy: Hisham
JAC will
EDUCATION Minister Datuk Seri
lead to Hishammuddin Hussein says any
problems, form of demonstration would be
says meaningless in influencing the
policy on teaching Mathematics and
retired CJ Science in English.
pg 6 He said the ministry had held
roundtable discussions with
related parties and explained
comprehensively the rationale for
the policy.
“Demonstrations have been
rampant inside and outside the
country. So such threats are not
something surprising,” he told
reporters after launching the
Malaysian Book of Old Documents
and Agreements at the Parliament
lobby.
“If the Dong Jiao Zong or
DJZ (United Chinese School
Committees Association) insists on
going ahead with their protest, let
them do it.
“Our effort (to implement the
policy) is for the future of our
children and it’s the best decision
based on facts and figures as well as
mature and rational discussion.”
On Saturday, Jiao Zong
(United Chinese School Teachers
Students’ rights not violated: Khaled
THE Dewan Rakyat passed the Universities and
University Colleges (Amendment) Bill to improve
the welfare and fundamental rights of the uni-
versity administration, university workers and
students yesterday.
Despite criticism from opposition MPs that the
amendment will continue to restrict the freedom
of students to be involved in politics, Higher
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled
Nordin said it did not restrict them from taking
part in academic-based activities organised with
political parties, except joining the parties.
“The students can still attend talks and de-
bates with political leaders to talk on (such topics
as) fuel prices, which is a topic that relates to
academics,” he said when winding up the second
reading of the Bill.
Govt properties abroad worth RM3.59b
THE government has properties abroad worth
RM3.59 billion which are managed by the
Foreign Ministry.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar,
replying to a question on behalf of the Foreign
Ministry, said some of these assets were acquired
soon after independence.
“Overall, the assets were bought for about
RM578.5 million in the open market and also
through land allocation arrangements between
the Malaysian and foreign governments, such
as that allocated by the Turkish government in
No radiation in imported foods
IMPORTED foods do not contain radiation, with
none having been rejected for such contamina-
tion, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul
Latiff Ahmad said.
“Only one company from Australia had ap-
plied to export irradiated mangoes to Malaysia,”
he said in reply to a question from Fuziah Salleh
(PKR-Kuantan), who had inquired whether the
ministry’s scanning procedure had detected
radiation in imported foods.
Abd Latiff said all imported foods had to be
theSun | FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 2008
Association) president Ong Chiaw
Chuan warned that DJZ would
launch a protest should the
government decide to continue with
the policy.
“The Chinese community has to
act if the issue is not resolved,” he
said.
Ong urged Chinese-based
political parties and Chinese
ministers, especially those from the
MCA, to stand firm in fighting for
the use of Chinese as the medium
of instruction for Science and
Mathematics in Chinese primary
schools.
He said most of the participants
at the second and fourth roundtable
talks on the policy held on Aug 27
and Oct 21, respectively, including
DJZ and educational and cultural
groups of various races, political
parties, academics and former
education officers, were not in
favour of the English policy.
“Studies by educational groups
and universities, and even the
Education Ministry’s own survey,
showed that the implementation of
policy has not produced the desired
results,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled said the Bill does not violate
the basic human rights of the students. “They
are not allowed to join political parties because
we do not want political parties to interfere with
campus administration,” he said.
He said the students can still study politics,
and campus elections allow them to “experi-
ence” an election.
On the criticism that the government is
practising double standard by allowing students
overseas to join the Umno Club, he said the club
is not a political party per se as it is a club formed
to take care of the welfare of the students.
“Umno does not set up clubs in the country.
If the Opposition wanted to, it can also set up its
clubs abroad for students who study overseas,”
he said.
2007,” he said in reply to a question from Lim
Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut).
“As our assets are located in different
countries, sometimes it is difficult to know the
exact value. However, based on reports from
Malaysia’s diplomatic missions, their current
worth is estimated at RM3.59 billion according
to the market value.”
Syed Hamid said the government has 32
chancery buildings, 33 official residences for
Malaysia’s heads of missions and 189 apart-
ment units in 43 countries.
declared to the Health Ministry and Customs
with documents and food samples.
In the case of irradiated foods, importers
had to comply with section 396 (2) of the Food
Regulation 1985.
“Under section 396 (2), importers have to
meet three conditions, namely to apply for
permits from the Agriculture and Agro-Based
Industry Ministry, label the products and have
certificates from the countries of origin,” he
said. – Bernama