Nothing Wrong With Raising Grassroots Concerns On Petaling Street Wee

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MCA president Wee Ka Siong clarified that he was merely addressing grassroots concerns when raising issues about alleged plans to remove the Chinese characters from the Petaling Street archway in Kuala Lumpur.
ADSHe accused his political opponents of putting words in his mouth in accusing him of fabricating the claim.
In a video posted on his Chinese-language social media accounts yesterday, Wee explained the issue was raised during a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by Petaling Street’s traders on Sunday, where he was invited to attend.
The Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairperson Ang Say Tee brought up the issue during his welcoming speech.
“I’m very worried right now. Officers of the city hall told me Petaling Street’s Chinese name could be removed.
“They are still considering and haven't decided. I hope MCA or the entire unity government help us fight for... not much, just three words (in Chinese), so it can forever be preserved in Petaling Street,” Ang said, based on a clip included in Wee’s video.
In later reports, Ang told Oriental Daily the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had suggested the removal during a meeting in June last year; and the Chinese community should be prepared for it even though the suggestion has yet to be approved, to avoid unexpected decisions.
In a response during his officiating speech later, Wee pledged that MCA would never allow any injustice or anything unreasonable to befall Petaling Street’s Chinese name.
At the same time, he explained existing signage laws would permit the Chinese name on the archway as long as it’s smaller than the Malay name.
“Since when did Wee Ka Siong ‘expose’ officials who wanted to remove the Chinese words from the Petaling Street gateway?” he fired back at his critics.
Reasonable concern
Wee also defended Ang, saying that it is reasonable for a community leader to voice his concerns in his speech and urge political leaders and the government to address them.
“And thus, I have responded. What is wrong with that? When grassroots societies raise issues, am I supposed to evade and feign ignorance?” he said.
ADSWee had issued a statement on Sunday to oppose an alleged suggestion to remove the Chinese characters “茨廠街” from Petaling Street’s iconic archway.
The word literally means “tapioca factory street” - in reference to the tapioca flour factory established by Yap Ah Loy, who helped develop Kuala Lumpur from a tin mining settlement.
Yap Ah LoyHowever, DBKL issued a statement the following day denying the existence of any plans or proposals to either remove or alter the Chinese characters on the archway.
The denial also led to a backlash against Wee, who said in his video he has counted 11 political figures including ministers who have called on him to resign, apologise, or offer a “mea culpa” (acknowledging one’s error) for supposedly making a false claim.
Wee also lamented that when he raised the issue of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad’s share sale, the only response he received was “one person playing semantics and creating a lot of trouble”.
“But this time, with the Petaling Street archway issue, you took other people’s words to put in my mouth,” he said. - Mkini

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