LUMPUR: Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Zaniah (female adulterer), Batumalai (stone hill) or Ah Kow (dog) figure amongst a list of names that are termed "undesirable" for use by Malaysians to christen their children.
KUALA LUMPUR: Adolf Hitler, Stalin, Zaniah (female adulterer), Batumalai (stone hill) or Ah Kow (dog) figure amongst a list of names that are termed "undesirable" for use by Malaysians to christen their children.
The National Registration Department has forbidden the country's multi-ethnic community comprising Malays, Indians and Chinese from using names from a list that it has compiled, the 'New Strait Times' said on Sunday.
"The department has put up a list of 'undesirable' names in a bid to spare a child the blushes when he/she grows up," the paper reported.
Among the no-no names for the department has also banned Ah Gong (unsound mind), Chai Too (pig), Kai Chai(chick) and Sum Seng (gangster). While it is crass to name your son, Ah Kow (dog), Karruppan (black fellow), and other Indian (mostly Tamil) words like Sivappi and Vellayan (both meaning fair), and Amma-kannu (mother's eye) are also on the list.
NRD spokesperson Jainisah Mohd Noor said the list was given to the department by various authorities such as the Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia, the Malaysian Hindu Sangam and the Universiti Malaya Tamil Language Association.
Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia president Ang Joo Hong said "undesirable" names were popular with the Chinese as it was believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
"But the Chinese are more educated now and prefer auspicious names," he said.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A Vaithi said many adults unhappy with the names given by their parents had approached the body for letters to have their names changed.
In the case of Muslim babies, parents will be referred to the Islamic Affairs Department if the name does not sound right.
"Again, we can only advise them, but if they are insistent even after knowing they are unsuitable, they may be allowed to use them."
Besides names of dictators like Adolf Hitler and Stalin, these adults had grown up being teased in school for being named after natural disasters, vehicles, household items and countries, the paper said.
Naming your baby Hitam (black in Bahasa Malay) or Putih (white in Bahasa Malay) is not allowed. Similarly, you can't call him 007, 001 or K7. "You will be surprised to know we have Malaysians named after Japanese car makes." Sorry, there will be no Honda Tan, or Suzuki Lim," the department said.
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