In Malaysia’s Kedah, Chinese text at factory event sparks double-standard accusation

The controversy began after photos circulated of a foundation stone bearing Chinese characters at the groundbreaking ceremony for Prinx Tire Malaysia, the local subsidiary of Chinese tyre maker Prinx Chengshan, at Kedah Rubber City (KRC) earlier this week. The 2.6 billion ringgit (US$627 million) plant is set to become the first anchor investment at the 1,244-acre industrial estate.

One widely shared comment on social media read: “Even the foundation stone is in Chinese. PAS claims to uphold Jawi – what a bunch of liars, phui. If this happened in Penang or Selangor, their supporters would be screaming nonstop.”

Defending the move, Haim Hilman Abdullah, the state executive councillor in charge of industry and investment and a PAS central committee member, said in a social media post that the foundation stone also carried Malay text and all official speeches at the ceremony were delivered in Malay.

He urged the public “not to be worried” about the Chinese inscription, which he said simply read “laying the foundation”, and argued that Malaysia should show mutual respect when hosting foreign investors.