GEORGE TOWN: Some organisations and publications, which use the word “Penang”, have objected to the exclusive claim of the name by the state government.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) manager Magdeline Ng-Leong said clearer guidelines were needed as Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s directive was unclear.
She said it would be unfair to ask established societies like the PHT to remove the word “Penang” from its name or revert to the state on whether they were allowed to use it.
“I know that recently some companies and societies have put ‘Penang’ and ‘Unesco’ and ‘World Heritage’ in their names to take advantage of the situation and that is wrong,” she said.
She added that the state could form a team to check which societies were misusing the word “Penang” and take action against them.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said publications, events and organisations that wanted to use the word “Penang” needed to get the state’s permission to prevent misuse of the name by those wanting to collect donations by claiming that it was for the state government.
IN Penang tourism magazine managing editor Ch’ng Huck Theng said that while he understood why the state would want to curb unethical use of the word “Penang”, the misuse of the state government logo was a more pressing issue.
State Gerakan Youth vice-chairman H’ng Khoon Leng urged Lim to retract his directive as the word “Penang” belonged to all Penangites.
He suggested that police reports be made or legal action be taken if there was abuse of the word “Penang” to mislead anyone.
Meanwhile, Intrenasionale chief executive officer Andrew Chan, whose company has been organising international standard events in the state for the last 20 years, said the requirement for companies to seek permission was “a non-issue and a good move to weed out badly managed events”.
He also said it was important for the state to make clear the guidelines for the applications to be approved.
Penevents Sdn Bhd managing director Ong Ban Seang, whose company manages the Penang International Sport Arena, said it was a good policy to prevent abuse.
“Some small events use the word to give the impression that these are massive state-wide functions, which is misleading,” he said.
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