KUALA LUMPUR: It is imperative advertisers first refer to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) before applying for a licence from local authorities to put up outdoor advertisements.
DBP director-general Datuk Termuzi Abdul Aziz said the matter was stipulated under the local authorities by-laws pertaining to outdoor advertisements, affective last year.
Under the by-laws, he said, DBP would first scrutinise the language and visuals used in the advertisement.
Only when it gave its consent, could the advertisers apply for the licence from the local authorities, he said, adding that many advertisers had submitted their applications.
“Beginning this year, we have also developed a special portal, via www.dbp.gov.my, to facilitate them (advertisers) to access our service,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
On the advertisers’ tendencies to use foreign language in their advertisements, instead of the national language, Termuzi said it was indeed, inappropriate.
“There is a law concerning the issue, but maybe it is due to lack of enforcement,” he said, adding that the local authorities should be more serious in carrying out law enforcement. — Bernama