Muar traders relieved over reversal on Chinese characters on shops

PETALING JAYA (Sept 9): Traders at Jalan Sisi in Muar, Johor, expressed relief over the quick reversal of a notice to remove Chinese characters on their pre-war shophouses, reported The Star.

The notice which was issued on Tuesday directed business owners to remove the characters within two weeks.

Traders who failed to comply would be liable to a fine of up to RM2,000, two years in jail or both.

Chop Huap Aik Hardware outlet owner Ong Kiat Seng said forcing them to remove the letters on her shop's pillar which dates back to 1929 was akin to concealing history.

Meanwhile, a local trader who declined to be named said the council should have sought feedback from the community before making such a decision.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had also criticised the move.

“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,” he said.

Yesterday, state executive councillor Tan Hong Pin explained that council officers were enforcing a rule that dictates the size of lettering on signboards and refuted claims of racial prejudice motivating the decision.