Kampung Sungai Nipah: The Port Dickson Municipal Council (MPPD) will replace at least 16 road signs written in Chinese in Kampung Sungai Nipah here with bilingual signs, said MPPD president Hasnor Abd Hamid.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new signs are being ordered and will be installed as soon as possible, with the road names remaining unchanged. Hasnor explained that the Chinese-language signs in the village were installed in 2018 without approval from MPPD or the district office. Consequently, the council will replace them with new signs, ensuring the size of the Malay script is larger than that of the second language, Chinese.

Additionally, Hasnor emphasized that MPPD will ensure the prioritization of Bahasa Melayu on signs and billboards. He noted that any application for sign installations must be submitted to the council. Hasnor shared these details with reporters after inspecting the signs in the village, accompanied by Chuah state assemblyman Yew Boon Lye.

Earlier reports in local media highlighted that Pertubuhan Pemerkasaan Identiti Malaysia (Identiti), an organization advocating for Bahasa Melayu as the national language, had expressed regret over the presence of Chinese-language road signs in the village and urged local authorities to take action.

Meanwhile, Yew explained that the signs, installed about seven years ago, were likely intended to accommodate the influx of tourists from China visiting the area. These tourists, including those visiting the Nipah virus memorial museum, benefited from the signs to better navigate the local area.

In a separate matter, Hasnor mentioned that MPPD is conducting periodic enforcement against the sale of goods at traffic light intersections. This initiative is part of efforts to maintain the district’s image as a tourist destination. Hasnor remarked that presenting a good image is crucial, especially since Port Dickson will be hosting ASEAN meetings. He stressed that while the council does not intend to deny anyone their livelihood, compliance with the law is essential to ensure public safety and prevent unregulated roadside sales.