To good fortune: Ka Siong (left) leading FT MCA committee members at the CNY open house at Petaling Street. Also participating in the lou sang toss are Jeck Seng (right), Dr Mah (second from right), Ang (second from left) and MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon (third from left). — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: With the rapid growth of the city, reinstating local council elections will ensure better governance, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Putting things in perspective, the MCA president noted that there are no state assemblymen or elected city councillors in Kuala Lumpur.
As for MPs and councillors, he said, they serve distinct roles, with the latter focusing on municipal governance.
“In the past, Kuala Lumpur had a state assembly to oversee local governance.
“Reintroducing local elections will improve service delivery and accountability.
“Local elections began in Kuala Lumpur and it’s only right for the city to lead the way in restoring them,” he added.
Malaysia’s first local elections were held in George Town in 1951, followed by Kuala Lumpur a year later.
Ka Siong also highlighted the cultural and historical significance of Petaling Street, known as Chinatown.
“As a child, I learnt about Yap Ah Loy who set up a tapioca flour factory here in the late 1800s, supplying the world. His efforts symbolised our ancestors’ hard work,” he said during a Chinese New Year open house at Petaling Street here yesterday.
He noted that Petaling Street was once Kuala Lumpur’s commercial hub and has remained a well-known tourist attraction.
MCA, he said, will continue to help in efforts to preserve Petaling Street’s history and identity.
“As long as Malay signage remains prominent, Chinese characters should not be erased,” he said.
“Our ancestors built communities here, contributing to education and culture.
“It will be illogical if we can’t even retain Chinese signage in Petaling Street.”
Federal Territories MCA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the party will fight to ensure that Chinese signage remains in Petaling Street.
Jeck Seng, who is also the Tanjung Piai MP, said that MCA will push for the reinstatement of local council elections in Kuala Lumpur.
Yesterday’s Chinese New Year open house event, jointly hosted by the FT MCA and Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association, drew many visitors, who participated in the lou sang prosperity toss and enjoyed lion dance performances.
Also present were MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee.
In a Facebook post following the event, Ka Siong addressed concerns raised by Ang about Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s proposal to allow Petaling Street be known only as “Jalan Petaling” in its signage.
MCA, he said, strongly opposes the move.
“The party insists that as long as the signage complies with the Advertisements (Federal Territories) By-Laws 1982 and the Local Government Act 1976, which ensure that the Malay language remains the most prominent, the inclusion of the Chinese characters for ‘Petaling Street’ should not be an issue,” Ka Siong said.
The proposal came after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had complained of Chinese-language signs by businesses in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: With the rapid growth of the city, reinstating local council elections will ensure better governance, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Putting things in perspective, the MCA president noted that there are no state assemblymen or elected city councillors in Kuala Lumpur.
As for MPs and councillors, he said, they serve distinct roles, with the latter focusing on municipal governance.
“In the past, Kuala Lumpur had a state assembly to oversee local governance.
“Reintroducing local elections will improve service delivery and accountability.
“Local elections began in Kuala Lumpur and it’s only right for the city to lead the way in restoring them,” he added.
Malaysia’s first local elections were held in George Town in 1951, followed by Kuala Lumpur a year later.
Ka Siong also highlighted the cultural and historical significance of Petaling Street, known as Chinatown.
“As a child, I learnt about Yap Ah Loy who set up a tapioca flour factory here in the late 1800s, supplying the world. His efforts symbolised our ancestors’ hard work,” he said during a Chinese New Year open house at Petaling Street here yesterday.
He noted that Petaling Street was once Kuala Lumpur’s commercial hub and has remained a well-known tourist attraction.
MCA, he said, will continue to help in efforts to preserve Petaling Street’s history and identity.
“As long as Malay signage remains prominent, Chinese characters should not be erased,” he said.
“Our ancestors built communities here, contributing to education and culture.
“It will be illogical if we can’t even retain Chinese signage in Petaling Street.”
Federal Territories MCA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the party will fight to ensure that Chinese signage remains in Petaling Street.
Jeck Seng, who is also the Tanjung Piai MP, said that MCA will push for the reinstatement of local council elections in Kuala Lumpur.
Yesterday’s Chinese New Year open house event, jointly hosted by the FT MCA and Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association, drew many visitors, who participated in the lou sang prosperity toss and enjoyed lion dance performances.
Also present were MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee.
In a Facebook post following the event, Ka Siong addressed concerns raised by Ang about Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s proposal to allow Petaling Street be known only as “Jalan Petaling” in its signage.
MCA, he said, strongly opposes the move.
“The party insists that as long as the signage complies with the Advertisements (Federal Territories) By-Laws 1982 and the Local Government Act 1976, which ensure that the Malay language remains the most prominent, the inclusion of the Chinese characters for ‘Petaling Street’ should not be an issue,” Ka Siong said.
The proposal came after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had complained of Chinese-language signs by businesses in Kuala Lumpur.
