A number of incidents in which the Malaysian flag has been flown upside down or in reverse are being deliberately manipulated to create the perception that the national flag is being defiled, reveals political aide Syahredzan Johan (above).
His statement comes after incidents at a school in Pahang and at a car dealership.
IGP Abdul Hamid Bador confirmed today that investigations found that the upside-down flag at the school was an honest mistake made by a foreign worker who did not know which way the flag should have been hung.
He added that the act was not meant to cause embarrassment or serve as a protest. The car dealership outlet has also apologised for a similar mistake made by one of its foreign workers unfamiliar with the flag.
"I think there is a concentrated effort to create the perception that there are people who intentionally want to defile the national flag."
"I do not know by who, or what the intention is, but I think this sentiment is deliberately being played up," Syahredzan told Malaysiakini.
He said this was especially true when messages were being viralled linking these "upside-down" flags to racial issues.
"The upside-down flags photos that are being viralled are a combination of old photos, current photos and possibly doctored photos, all to create this perception."
Syahredzan, who is the political secretary to Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, said that the one or two current incidents which were unintentional were being linked with dated photos to create the perception.
"On Twitter, I tried to show how some of these photos are old photos," he said.
Former Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar was also not about to take the matter lightly. Calling for quick, firm action on the matter, he tweeted "Malaysia is stressed. This is beyond acceptable limits of freedom and democracy. How can any citizen desecrate the honour, dignity, sovereignty of our nation by putting our flag upside down or changing its colour, be it federation or state."
Syahredzan cited this as a reaction to social media posts.
"I think what Syed Hamid tweeted is a reaction to what is being viralled," he said.
He declined to speculate as to who might gain for deliberately manipulated sentiments over this issue.
"I do not know who is behind the attempts to create this perception," he said.
Gambar atas kiri: 2017, Indonesia
Gambar atas kanan: 2016, JB
Gambar bawah kiri: 2013
Gambar bawah kanan: Entah, tak nampak bendera. twitter.com/mohdzakimohdza…
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Malaysia is stressed. This is beyond acceptable limits of freedom & democracy. How can any citizen desecrate d honor, dignity & sovereignty of our nation by putting our flag upside down or changing its color, be it Federation or state. Quick firm action required.
See syed hamid albar's other Tweets
Gambar-gambar viral bendera Malaysia terbalik tu SEBENARNYA adalah gambar-gambar lama yang diulang tayang.
(Paling femes adalah cerita "Prof. Rauf Lin dari USM" yang sebenarnya tidak wujud pun!).
194 people are talking about this
- Mkini
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