Utusan Malaysia claims that the ‘new flag’ dubbed Sang Saka Malayaunfurled during the Merdeka eve celebrations at Dataran Merdeka was designed by PKR Youth deputy publicity chief Najwan Halimi.
The daily cited Najwan's Twitter message on that night that read “Sang Saka Malaya finally raised by youths” with a photograph showing two individuals bearing the flag at the iconic square.
It also reported that Najwan (right) had on Aug 30, 2009, posted an article on his blog explaining thatSang Saka Malaya was designed by him based on the patterns of Indonesia and Singapore's national flags, the heritage from the governments of this archipelago.
The article pointed out that the Malaysian national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, does not reflect the same elements, as it was modified from the ‘Stars and Stripes’, the flag of the United States.
It said perhaps this was the reason behind Malaysians' reluctance to raise the national flag.
Najwan will call a press conference later today to respond on the issue.
Continued criticism
Utusan Malaysia today continued to highlight criticisms against the act of raising Sang Saka Malaya during the 'Janji Demokrasi' rally last Thursday which was organised by civil society groups.
The Umno-owned daily also dedicated a commentary entitled “Don't let them get away ” by its news editor Zulkiflee Bakar, urging the authorities to take stern action against those who behaved uncouth that night.
The police have started aninvestigation into the incident of raising the 'new flag' under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 for doing, attempting, preparing or conspiring to do an act of seditious tendency.
They are also on the lookout for individuals who stepped on photographs of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor at the same event.
The police said this act was being investigated under Section 290 of the Penal Code for committing a public nuisance and Section 504 of the same law for causing intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
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