A Quick Guide To Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka Signboard Approvals
If you are a business in Malaysia handling your own signboard license application, you’ll know by now that language approval from Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) is one of the supporting documents required.
Here’s an example of DBP certificate you submit to the Local council:
While obtaining approval is uncomplicated, instructions are rather scattered, so we’ve compiled them into a brief guide with links to DBP resources.
Here’s how we’ve broken it down:
- DBP signboard rules
- fees and timelines
- how to submit your design, and
- your next steps
NOTE: As they’re the most common, we’ve written this specifically for rectangular signs displayed above premises, so get in touch if you need help with other types of signboards!
Otherwise, let’s begin.
DBP signboard rules
Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka uses the 2018 Business Premises Signage Design Guidelines to pass or fail your submission.
We encourage you to read it as DBP doesn’t just evaluate literal language, but its use in context, which has key implications including:
- language must be accurate in terms of spelling and grammar
- if more than one language, Bahasa Melayu is bigger and more prominently placed
- proper nouns like actual the name of your business can be displayed in another language without being translated
- visuals and content on the sign must be clear and matching
- no vulgar or racially insensitive elements
Here’s a textbook example of a multilingual signboard that follows guidelines.
The closer your design looks to the above, the better your chances of being approved by DBP, and vice versa.
Fees & timelines
DBP charges a non-refundable RM30 application fee, so if your submission is rejected, you’ll have to pay again.
As far as timelines, their official guidelines state three working days, but in our experience it can take longer (up to a week) due to high application volumes.
How to submit your design
All submissions, payment, and certificate printing is done on DBP Sah Bahasa.
First-time applicants will need to register an account, and we’ll just link to a couple of DBP’s official guides for that:
From there, it’s a pretty self-explanatory process, including making payment.
If your design is approved, you’ll receive the following notice via email.
From there, just head over to DBP Sah Bahasa to download your approval and you can proceed with your PBT license application.
Your next steps
Depending on where you are in your license pre-application preparations, you may find the following guides useful:
That’s it from us, and we wish you a smooth application 🙂
Let MISHU handle your DBP signboard approval
Our business license application team has helped hundreds of local and foreign business owners secure their premise and signboard licenses from various Local Authorities in Malaysia, and we’d love to help you!