IPOH, July 6 (Bernama) — The Perak state government has directed the Kuala Kangsar Town Council (MPKK) to use appropriate names for projects and use Malay as the official medium for signboards since Kuala Kangsar is a royal town in Perak.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Malay should be used as the official medium with large letters while English can be used in smaller letters.

“Not only in Kuala Kangsar but all local councils have been directed to use a similar approach,” he told reporters after chairing a state assembly meeting here today.

Zambry said when naming places, or in signboards and signage, the status of Kuala Kangsar as a royal town must be taken into account.

Gabungan Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Gapena) had recently urged MPKK to give English names to places of interest or tourist spots in Kuala Kangsar.

Gapena had issued the statement after MPKK had chosen Sayong Riverfront for the Sungai Perak landscape and upgrading project at a cost of RM12 million.

Meanwhile, MPKK president Datuk Mohd Shafie Ariffin had yesterday clarified that the name Sayong Riverfront was chosen based on its commercial value and to attract foreign tourists.

The name Sayong Riverfront was in line with the town’s aspiration of becoming a leading tourist destination in the country, especially for foreign tourists.

— BERNAMA