S'gor backtracks on 1Msia ban
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has confirmed that there is no ban on 1Malaysia logo adding that controversy over its use was the result of "confusion".
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has confirmed that there is no ban on 1Malaysia logo adding that controversy over its use was the result of "confusion".
He said the state will not stop private use of the logo but all state agencies and government-linked companies are barred from using it.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the weekly state cabinet meeting today, Abdul Khalid said that this was because the state views 1Malaysia as a hypocritical and empty slogan.
"The Selangor administration will not get involved in a concept that is not mirrored in the actual reality and policies of the BN-federal government and seems only to make fun of the people's hopes to bring about a Malaysia that is fair and equal.
"The Selangor government will always practise true unity in order to bring about a nation that all groups, ethnicities and religious communities can freely live in," said the MB.
Khalid's announcement today is an apparent about-turn since his political secretary Faekah Hussin declared that the state administration made a "political decision" to ban the slogan from appearing on public and private premises.
Harsh words
In a harshly worded statement on Dec 24 while Khalid was on holiday overseas, Faekah said that 1Malaysia is "BN political slogan" and thus warrants the ban.
Checks with several local authorities last month revealed that some had received orders from the state to deny the approval of advertising material featuring the 1Malaysia logo.
Similarly, exco in charge of local authorities Ronnie Liu (left) confirmed that there is a "temporary freeze" on 1Malaysia logos in advertising materials.
Khalid explained that the confusion arose from an order forbidding government-linked companies from using their funds to promote 1Malaysia.
"If it is on private premises and not for political purposes, for businesses, then the local governments may approve. But they must ask permission from the local councils.
"State funds and resources must be used to promote state programmes, not for programmes without any links to the state," he said.
Promoting state's theme
He said that instead, the state exco have decided that the state government's official theme is Merakyatkan Ekonomi (People-based economy) to promote national unity and not 1Malaysia.
"We don't want our resources to be used for promoting 1Malaysia but to promote Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor," he said.
Previously, the state government had come under fire from traders who were fuming over their respective local authorities decision to ban them from using the 1Malaysia logo on their business signs and advertisement materials.
Following this, BN leaders including deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin claimed that 1Malaysia is not a political slogan and that Pakatan Rakyat has banned its use out of fear.
1Malaysia is the brainchild of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Indeed there are rumours that the ubiquitous '1' will be added to the BN logo soon.
