What's In A (Road) Name

Star Q

i.  Peach and Cheddar Cheesecake

ii.  Collaborative Learning - Topic : Recycling

iii.  STPM 2014 Semester 1

When I think about all the main roads in this country, be they popular roads with heavy traffic or even lonely, village roads, the names given to these roads would have been given much thought.  I personally often wonder at these names, and then I sink back into my seat and accept that the names given to them are probably justified especially if they are named after people, whether living or deceased.

Let me take Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur for example; the famous stretch of road that never seem to have a quiet moment, thronged by people who want to buy everything from their daily wear to the kitchen sink!  As we all may already know, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman was once known as Batu Road (so named because it was the first road in the country made of (batu) stone)  It was aptly re-named not because it offers people to shop but more so because the road is where people of multi races congregate to work, shop and even study.  Thus, it is fitting that it is re-named after our first Yang di Pertuan Agong.

Another example is Jalan Parry which in 1982 was re-named Jalan P.Ramle after the nations much-adored entertainment personality.  Again, Jalan Parry was re-named after this personality not only because people from every race in this country knows who P. Ramlee is, the stretch of road itself is where entertainment outlets are located, for example pubs and nightclubs.

Hence, I am to presume when a particular stretch of road is re-named after a certain personality, that person whether living or deceased, should have made a big contribution, a long-lasting impact and effect, on the people of this nation; not on a minority of people.  I also presume that the person who has been given the honour to have a stretch of road named after him/her should be someone who is much loved by everyone from different levels of the society and from different races as well.  

My two earlier examples cite names of roads that reflect the lives and contributions of these people when they were still alive.  I am not saying that in the re-naming of roads, this strict presumption was followed, but if you want to re-name a road it should at least be named after one who is much loved by everyone in this nation, as a nation.