KUALA LUMPUR – The Perlis government will make it mandatory to use Jawi writing on every business premises signage, advertisement or billboards throughout the state from February 1.
Its state Housing, Local Government, Human Resource Development and Poverty Alleviation committee chairman Asrul Aimran Abd Jalil said the enforcement will also involve road signages in housing estates and neighbourhoods in the state.
“The regulation involves the new application of any business premises who want to raise new signages at their business premises without disturbing the existing advertising signage.
“It means that if there is a business owner who has signage that is still in good condition, but there is no Jawi writing written on it, they are still allowed to continue to use it.
“On the other hand, if business owners want to replace their damaged or faded signage with a new one, then they must include Jawi writing on their signages,” he told Berita Harian yesterday.
The state government’s latest measures, he said, were also an effort by the state government to empower and expose the localised adopted Arabic script to all levels of society in the state.
“This matter has actually been announced by the menteri besar (Mohd Shukri Ramli) in an effort to revive Jawi writing so that it is better known as an original form of writing in this country that has been used for a long time.”
Asrul Aimran said, his office will work alongside the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs), the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) and the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) through Munsyi Jawi to ensure that the Jawi calligraphy being carried is correct and accurate.
“The signboard of business premises will involve two languages, namely Bahasa Malaysia using the Roman script and Jawi script, while if the premises signage also has other local languages such as Mandarin or Tamil, there will be no issues including it together with Jawi script on the same signage board.
“In fact, the enforcement also involves all business premises that have an operating license from the Kangar Municipal Council regardless of whether the business premises sell non-halal goods or otherwise,” he was quoted as saying.
In addition to Perlis, the states of Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang and Melaka have already made Jawi script on every signboard of business premises and advertisements compulsory in their respective states. – January 10, 2024