Let us know the annual allocation for changing road names in Kuala Lumpur

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) to announce the annual allocation for erecting signposts with new road names, including the project in Jinjang North and the contractors appointed.


Dr Tan comments on the statement by The Federal Territory Parl;iamentary Secretary Yew Teong Lo0k on 8 .8.2007 that the New Road Names project in Jinjang North was stopped temporarily.

Five years ago, CHKL changed the signposts in Jinjang North, retaining the old names. The residents did not protest. A month ago, it put up new signposts with Sarawakian names. Each signpost is said to cost RM 500. There are 87 roads. The total amount may be RM 43, 500. As CHKL has stopped the new signpost project, will it be spending a similar additonal amount to change back the signposts bearing the original names.?

Two weeks ago, we met the Vice Director-General of CHKL Haji Mohd Amin Nordin. He is also the Chiarman of the Road Names Committee. We handed in a memorandum protesting against doing away with local and historical names. He promised to raise the matter at the meeting with the Public Works Department and City Transport Department, CHKL. YB Yew confirms that Amin has fulfilled his promise.

Most of the 87 signposts in Jinjang North have been changed into Sarawakian names. We do not know whether the contractor has received payment for the works. The statement that the project has been temporarily shelved does not reflect the truth: virtually all signposts have been replaced. We are waiting for the decision of CHKL whether to take down the new signposts to be replaced with newer ones bearing original names.

CHKL intends to meet the residents to listen to their views. This is reasonable as to do otherwise is riding roughshod over the people. Over a month a go, CHKL changed the signposts in Jinjang North, causing a public furore. The above-stated memorandum contains the logical method to retaining old names in the area.


For example, Main Street can be changed to Jalan Jinjang Besar and a series of roads can be Lorong-Lorong Jinjang 1,2,3, and so forth. As it is, CHKL alters Main Street to Jalan Limbang, followed by Jalan Limbang 1 to 16. Ulu Klang Road is changed to Jalan Samarahan 2. In fact, Jalan Cheras , Jalan Tanjung Malim, Jalan Selangor and Jalan Ulu Klang should be retained. East Road can be renamed Jalan Timur and so forth. During the Emergency in 1948, people from Cheras, Tanjung Malaim and Ulu Klang were forced to move to Jinjang North. Hence, the names of the streets where they have resided.

Although there are representatives from such agencies as Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, in the Road Names Committee, CHKL, they have hardly noticed the widespread use for decades of Persiaran (Announcement , Broadcast) instead of Pesiaran (Drive). For instance, Persiaran Mergastua in Kepong Baru whereas Pesiaran Mergastua is correct.

The project involves tens of thousands of ringgits, not hundreds of millions. Still, it is a wastage of public fund.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw