The Penang government is taking steps to revert some of the existing road names to its originally gazetted names in stages with immediate effect.
State Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said when the standardisation of road names was done back in 1970, some of the road names went through changes.
“When the changes were made in the 1970s, the roads were renamed to follow the standard Malay language spelling. But this is a person’s name, so it should not have been changed,” he added.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is taking steps to revert some of the existing road names to its originally gazetted names in stages with immediate effect.
For a start, the road ‘Jalan Muntri’ is now ‘Lebuh Muntri’, as it was originally known then as ‘Muntri Street’ .
The term ‘Muntri’ was coined from the old spelling of ‘Menteri’.
State Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said when the standardisation of road names was done back in 1970, some of the road names went through changes.
Apart from ‘Lebuh Muntri’, ‘Lorong Kucing’ was also changed to ‘Lorong Kuching’ with the old spelling, he added.
“There are also other proposals made for the name change. For instance, the locals want ‘Jalan Cheong Fatt Sze’ to be changed to ‘Hong Kong Street’,” he told newsmen today.
Other proposals include changing the name ‘Lorong Abu Siti’ to ‘Lorong Aboo Sittee’.
Zairil explained roads which were named after an individual should not be changed.
“When the changes were made in the 1970s, the roads were renamed to follow the standard Malay language spelling. But this is a person’s name, so it should not have been changed,” he added.
Others in the pipeline include Air Itam, Gelugor and Batu Ferringhi.
Zairil, who is also the state geographical names committee chairman, said the proposals would be studied and implemented in stages after taking into account the feedback of stakeholders of the respective roads.
“Any road name changes proposed for places within the heritage zone of George Town will be referred to the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) and the heritage department,” he added.
Lebuh Madras and Lebuh China are some of the few names that were given based on its respective historical values in the area in the past.
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