No change of flag, says PR, as youths explain why

Responding to prime minister Najib Razak’s accusation, Pakatan Rakyat leaders have stressed that the coalition does not harbour any agenda to change the current design of the Malaysian flag.

“PAS can never accept the actions of a few to waive a different flag on the eve of Merdeka Day celebration,” said PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali, who said the act must be probed.

Several youths held the Sang Saka Malaya, the flag which symbolised the struggle against the British colonialist, during the 'Janji Demokrasi' rally on the eve of Merdeka Day in Kuala Lumpur.

The act was followed by accusation by BN leaders that PR was planning to replace the national flag as well as other national symbols once in power.

Home minister Hishammuddin Hussein, International Trade and Industry minister Mustapa Mohamed and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister Noh Omar have all joined in the condemnations.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang stressed that changing the flag was “never a Pakatan Rakyat agenda and has never been discussed or raised in any Pakatan Rakyat meeting.”

He also dismissed Mustapa’s suggestion that PR wanted to turn Malaysia into a republic.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had also earlier denied on Twitter that PR had intention to change the Jalur Gemilang.

But the flag bearers, a youth who blogs under the name "Serigala Selatan" and his friend Zairi Shafai, have explained that their act was to remind Malaysians of the struggle of independence fighters long ignored in official history text books.

"I and Zairi felt that besides the Jalur Gemilang, this flag deserves to be flown on the night of Merdeka night," they said in a blog posting, while denying that they had called for the national flag to be replaced.

The duo reminded critics that the flag, which does not bear the red and white stripes of Jalur Gemilang, had been flown at Gunung Semanggol, Perak by the Muslim People's Party of Malaya (Hizbul Muslimin), the leftist movement under the leadership of Abu Bakar Baqir who opposed UMNO's 'friendly' ways with the colonialists.

-Harakahdaily