DAP Youth members involved in pasting Chinese-language names onto three road signs in Kuching will take responsibility for their transgression, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
However, he said the Kuching North City Council’s (DBKU) call for them to be investigated under a criminal provision that allows for imprisonment between one to five years is excessive.
“We have spoken to those involved and they will take responsibility for their action including paying all the necessary fines and we have even encouraged them to offer themselves up for community service for the good of our city.
“But to ask these young people to be investigated and charged for ‘mischief’ under the Section 427 (of the Penal Code) which carries a prison term of one year to five years, including a fine, in my view, may be excessive,” the Sarawak DAP assistant secretary said in a statement today.
Earlier today, the DBKU demanded Sarawak DAP Youth make a public apology for putting the stickers on the road signs and to remove them immediately.
According to Bernama, assistant minister in the Chief Minister's Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Abdul Rahman Junaidi told a press conference today that DBKU had lodged a police report on the matter today.
“Whatever the motive, whether directly or indirectly, DBKU hopes that no other party will repeat such obvious acts of provocation and jeopardise the communal harmony in Kuching City. DBKU also hopes that those involved will take full responsibility for their actions,” he was quoted as saying.
In a separate statement, DBKU said the police report was made to urge for an investigation under Section 427 of the Penal Code.
It said defacing road signs was also a violation of the city’s bylaws on cleanliness.
Yesterday, a group of Sarawak DAP Youth members led by its chapter leader Julian Tan added Chinese names stickers to the road signs for Jalan Main Bazaar, Lebuh Wayang and Jalan Green Hill.
Critics of the move said the action was insensitive in a plural society but Tan reportedly said it was done in good faith to restore the dual-language signboards that were there before.
“Main Bazaar is a historic and iconic place and a tourism spot. The dual-language road signs were there and then they were gone. What Sarawak Youth did was restore those road signs. The road sign issue has been there and SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party) knew about it.
“SUPP president Dr Sim (Kui Hian) who is a Chinese minister (for local government and housing) in the state cabinet, knew about the issue and they did nothing about it,” Borneo Post quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, DAP Youth’s national chief Howard Lee urged his counterparts in PKR and Amanah to consult their respective chapters in Sarawak first before commenting on the issue.
“We don’t have to read all issues through a Peninsular lens and perspective especially on matters involving local culture.
“It should be understood that road signs showing Chinese characters have long been a special feature in Kuching that was changed only recently,” he said, adding that he also respected the views of DAP’s allies.
He said DAP Youth’s national leadership will respect Sarawak’s autonomy as well as that of Sarawak DAP and its youth wing.
Earlier, Amanah and PKR youth leaders had told Sarawak DAP youth to apologise for their actions. - Mkini
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