An Umno division leader who was appointed a councillor of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) last July has insisted that the council changes its logo because the colours - green and white - which he associated with an opposition party are too prominent in it.

Arrifin Osman, the Seri Kembangan Umno branch secretary, said the green and white colours in the MPSJ logo were too glaring and he was embarassed to wear the council's tag o­n his shirt.

"As an Umno member, too much green touches my sensitivity," he conceded when contacted by malaysiakini.
Arrifin's call to MPSJ to change its logo was reported in the Subang Jaya community website and The Sun. He brought up the matter at a recent full board council meeting and suggested that all MPSJ logos be removed immediately.

Despite being told by the council's deputy president Arpah Abdul Razak that having a new logo would unnecessarily cost ratepayers some RM500,000, Ariffin insisted that was not an issue and "the change is a must".

Ariffin, a political appointee in the council, was also told that MPSJ had o­nly changed its logo two years ago.

"We have spent much more money than that for other purposes before, and why not for a better logo," he argued.

Alternatively, he insisted that the council uses plastic paint to cover those logos which were displayed in public areas so as to save costs.

"Or perhaps, the MPSJ can just revert to the previous logo, where the green and white are not too dominant," he said.

Ariffin said he was not demanding that the colours be changed to red and white (Umno's colours), "but any colour will suffice to replace the prominent green".

The Umno politician said he was embarrassed when people made fun of the logo and saying that MPSJ staff are supporting PAS.

"PAS thinks that green is more Islamic and that's why the party picks the colour (for its flag).

"This is not true...I don't think even Prophet Muhammad himself wore green everyday," added Ariffin.

Commitment to the environment

The MPSJ website, however, indicates that the green in its logo is to signify the council's commitment to preserve the environment.

"As a whole, the logo reflects MPSJ as a committed and progressive local government," the website explains.

In 1999, Kelantan Umno maverick leader Ibrahim Ali complained that the logo of Petronas, Malaysia's premier oil and gas multinational, was similar to that of PAS.

His point was taken seriously, resulting in the company having to spend over RM50 million just to change the logo.