Changing national flag akin to hating own country’

 

(Bernama) - In the latest incident, banners urging the people to choose flags other than the Jalur Gemilang were seen in several areas in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, including at the Abdullah Hukum LRT station in Bangsar. Azman said it was possible that this was deliberately done by certain quarters to cause disunity among the people in order to serve their own political agenda.

The attempt to change the national flag with another indirectly symbolises the hatred towards one’s own country, said National Unity and Integration Department director-general, Datuk Azman Amin Hassan. He also described the attempt as unhealthy and should be viewed seriously and stopped immediately.

“The Jalur Gemilang should be proudly flown and protected by Malaysians on national occasions,” he told Bernama, here, yesterday. He was commenting on attempts by certain quarters to change the national flag which symbolised national unity, with other flags.

In the latest incident, banners urging the people to choose flags other than the Jalur Gemilang were seen in several areas in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, including at the Abdullah Hukum LRT station in Bangsar. Azman said it was possible that this was deliberately done by certain quarters to cause disunity among the people in order to serve their own political agenda.

At the last national day celebration, a group of “People’s Flag” activists was seen promoting another flag and earlier in 2011, Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan of DAP in his Facebook said the opposition would change the national flag if it comes into power in the coming general election.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth exco member Datuk Sohaimi Shahadan said the action should be stopped immediately so that Malaysians were not influenced by the craftiness of certain parties to poison the minds of the younger generation. “There is no need for us to change our national flag. Only people who are blind to the country’s history and don’t love the nation would try to do this,” he said. In another development, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib when contacted by Bernama said DBKL had issued orders to remove all such banners. He also advised the organisers and participants of the public rally this Saturday to abide by the rules set for the well-being and safety of the people.