SIBU: A visibly remorseful Malaysia Airport Berhad Sibu Manager, Zainuddin Abu Nasir had to issue an apology to Pebedas (Pertubuhan Belia Dayak Sarawak) after his department had angered the Dayak community by labelling the toilets in the departure lounge - keling for the male toilet and kumang for the ladies'.
The naming angered the community resulting in the chairman of Pebedas Sibu Mathew Moilan Linggang lodging a police report over the matter.
The housekeeping of MAB Sibu had ignorantly labelled the two toilets as such since Nov 17 as they thought the names were unique. However they did not realise that the two names are sacred words of the Dayak.
Keling is the name for an Iban traditional warrior while kumang is for Iban maiden.
At a hastily called press conference at the police headquarters here on Wednesday, Zainuddin said they had no bad intention when using the two names in labelling the two toilets.
"We regret that our action have riled up the feeling of the Dayak community who is also our client. The matter is unintentional," he said in the presence of deputy district police chief Supt Martin Koo and Mathew.
Zainuddin said he had immediately asked his staff to remove the two names from the toilets.
He said he would report the matter to MAB headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and also to advise them to refrain from using any sacred names of any community in the country at all its airports nationwide so as not to insult them.
Mathew said he had to lodge a police report so as to "cool things down."
"The labelling of the two toilets has tarnished our reputation and we want an apology," he said.
Earlier Supt Martin said MAB had asked the police to be the "middlemen" to help settle the issue.
"I hope the matter will not linger on with an apology from MAB and both parties will come to an understanding as the matter was done unintentionally," he added.
