FT Minister wants signs checked, but says not getting even

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (centre, in grey, receiving Zamzam water from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) has asked City Hall to check signboards around the capital after Penang City Council enforcement officers tried to take down an Umno sign on Friday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 21, 2015.Despite claiming that he will not “get even” with DAP over the sign structure row between Umno Penang and the state government, Federal Territory Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has instructed the Kuala Lumpur City Hall director-general's office to check the validity of signs of business and political parties within the city limits.

“We do not want to become childish,” Tengku Adnan said.

“Nevertheless, I have asked the director-general to check on DAP signs and others as well.”

Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general, said he was not fully aware of what events unfolded in Penang on Friday.

“We want to know if Umno Penang did ask for approval for the sign.

“Our country has laws and we have to follow them, no matter if it is DAP or Umno,” he said after the flag-off of Umno Welfare Unit contribution event at the National Mosque today.

He said in the Federal Territories, which comprise Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, those who have erected signs illegally will have two weeks to take them down again.

“Once the grace period over, and having failed to obtain a license, we will ask the offender to remove the structure,” Tengku Adnan said.

On Friday, MBPP enforcement officers attempted to remove an Umno sign, which officers claimed partially occupyed a nearby water pipe reserve.

State Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, in a national daily newspaper report yesterday, said the sign would not be removed, no matter what action was taken by the council.

Zainal slammed the DAP-led state government for using council workers to attack Umno in such a way.

He was quoted as saying that the party would apply for the permit as required by the local council.

While the formalities are dealt with, Zainal said, the structure will remain as it is.