Yesterday, I wrote “Penang boleh!”
I spoke too soon. It should be “Penang” tak boleh! Apparently, any group, publication or event that wants to use “Penang” in its name must now get approval from the state government?
What???
“People should know that ‘Penang’ is not a name that they can simply use,” the Chief Minister is reported as saying in theSun. “The Penang government is the sole authority to decide whether anyone can use the state brand.”
What nonsense is this? Who appointed it the sole authority? The name of a place belongs to its people, not to the state government. Just because of a few abuses, it wants to control the usage of the place-name and claim ownership over it.
And since when has Penang become a “brand”? (Want to copyright and patent it?) Such giveaway words reflect a corporate-business mentality, not a people-centred mind-set.
This is the same kind of corporate developer-friendly mentality that allows a private company to block and close a public road – Jalan Kaki Bukit – just because the firm is carrying out a construction project. (Is this a permanent or temporary closure? Don’t tell me the road has been sold as well – the local government must clarify. If it has been sold, use the Land Acquisition Act to reacquire the road as it is for a public purpose. Where is CAT? It looks as if Penang tak boleh stop a developer from breaking up and blocking a public road.)
The Companies Commission and the Registrar of Societies already have their own requirements on the usage of place names. Is there a need for other “approvals” now? What is the criteria for such “approvals”?
What is the state government’s position on websites such as Penang Story, Penang Media and Penang Watch?
What about the civil society event called Penang Forum, organised by Penang-based NGOs after the general election last year?
What if someone opens a blog or magazine called Penang Char Koay Teow or Kuih-muih Pulau Pinang? Is the state government now saying that such names now require “approval” – because it supposedly owns the Penang “brand”?
Give me a break.
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The use of the names involving Malaysia, Penang, National, World, and other related names, are selective and prohibited for non-state or non-national bodies, Registrar of society or companies will normally not allow. It is not only in Penang, Malaysia, it is also other more advance countries in UK or USA. This is to protect the image and to avoid certain parties using the names for their illegal or malicious motives. It is similar to other names which are provocative and sensitive, names will not be allowed.
LGE is right to protect Penang’s name, it is not copyright. The right to provide advise on proper use of names, the right to reject is on the Registrar. There are law in some countries to prohibit certain names. I hope Malaysia have…..
I think LGE talk sense….
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LGE is talking nonsense.
Who says RoS normally doesn’t allow state names or Malaysia used for societies? There are plethora of societies named with “Pulau Pinang”, “Penang” and “Malaysia” and every other states names or city/town names or whatever in the registry of RoS (Pendaftar Pertubuhan).
States names and “Malaysia” are only not allowed for for-profit companies, or trademarks, ie. registry by RoC/SSM.
As Penangites, we’ll call whatever we want with “Penang” – Penang CKT, Laksa, Rojak, hantu raya, whatever (ditto Anil!).
Stop claiming everything’s yours, LGE. If you talk too much, and go way overboard, Penangites can kick you away back to Melaka or wherever you come from, so you cannot claim to be Penang Chief Minister anymore.
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Again, this is a small talk.
If I were a contractor and outing out a company name such as “Penang Prime Contractor Sdn Bhd”. I think what LGE is try to say.
Anyway, this is a good forum where we are feel free to bombard a politicians. Then LGE can know what is the next course of action. This is western styles and also American style.
But reading through the comments, and the main article itself. It looks emotional and hatred. Which show we are immature and influence by other factors and not solely bring out the real ideas.
Hope we are more sober in expressions.
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As far as I know, the very branded names of New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington and Timbuktoo too are not restrictive trademarked names.
To suggest doing so would, without a doubt, turn that person/politician into an immediate laughing stock and public relations disaster that not even someone like Max Clifford could help turn around.
So, what gives with this overly smart PR political move there in sunny branded and potentially soon to be trademarked into an anal-retentive-like place named “Penang”?
A tactical tendency from PR towards political suicide perhaps, or can it be down to a touch of heatstroke from a tad too much sun?
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
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Some businessmen and company always came out to be associated with State Government. We have got enough coverage of some project associated with State Government and abandoned until now.
For example, Nilai Inland Port project has a “fake association” with Negeri Sembilan State Government brand name during the launching. Now, the constructed drains are higher than the roads.
Some businessmen always bull … hit to threaten others that they knew PM or DPM to get things done.
I know Malaysian businessmen how crooked (many of them) they are. Some even say they paid political party RM10 millions. So, YAB LGE has this in mind, he is telling people upfront, “Penang State Government is not associated”.
People phoned in representing so and so (state government, political party or government agencies etc), soliciting donations.
Done use Penang brand name. Not penang laksa. Not penang fried kwei tew. Not penang rojak. Not Penang Nasi Kandar.
We need discernment before really hammering YAB Lim Guan Eng.
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We have got enough coverage of some project associated with State Government and abandoned until now.
Correction : We have not enough news coverage (Malaysia Medias) of some projects associated with State Government before. And they were actually abandoned until now.
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Perhaps there has been a miscommunication (thus leading to a misunderstanding) about what exactly it is the CM intended to convey with his stated proposal to restrict the use of the name “Penang”.
If the CM’s intention was to:
(a) protect the reputation of the Penang State Government (and by natural association the name of Penang itself) from being inappropriately taken advantage of and perhaps trashed (by say, the PSG’s name being used to promote crap-quality goods and activities so as to con the public by giving them a false perception/assurance that the goods or activities were in some way deemed safe/okay because they had been “approved” by the PSG); and
(b) build up goodwill from the perception that the PSG is a brand name with a reputation for a certain defined quality standard associated to the brand;
then rather than try to trademark the name of the state (which he cannot do or be allowed to do for obvious reasons) the right device to use may be a brand new accreditation mark of some sort designed for the purpose (of protection/quality assurance/value branding) and which unique symbol can then be trademarked and copyrighted and promoted widely to turn the new symbol into an instantly recognizable quality standard (like a kitemark) that is associated with the PSG, and by extension, also associated with the place name of Penang.
The PSG could then allow others to use/display this valued accredited symbol on a licensed basis – for free or for a fee – for the purposes of promoting their own products/services/activities to customers and members of the public and more importantly, to communicate an implicit guarantee of assurance (i.e. peace of mind for the public) that the product/activity in question was a safe bet quality item that had the valuable “guarantee/approval” of the PSG.
As the PSG would own the accredited quality mark, it obviously has to manage and police the brand value held within that symbol of quality and so be prepared to take action against those who may misuse the quality symbol and risk damaging the PSG’s reputation and brand/quality image. (This is of course assuming that the PSG will employ a holistic methodology in its efforts to build and maintain a brand reputation for itself).
If this is what the CM was in fact trying to convey and aiming to achieve, rather than what has been reported here, then the proposal appears in a different light and looks like a reasonable and sensible option to consider. It may also prove to have some exploratory potential for some valid income generation on the side for the PSG.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
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