Police have recommended that the nine Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) members who did not stand up when the national anthem was played during an event be charged.
Federal CID (prosecution and legal division) principal assistant director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.
Speaking at a press conference at Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur this morning, he said Malaysian citizens must, under the law, respect the national anthem.
"They (the nine) have explained that the reason they did not stand up was to protest.
"We did not take this (reason) into account when investigating. This is because when the national anthem is played, it is the duty of every Malaysian citizen to show respect," Mior Faridalathrash added.
He said the nine, aged between 34 and 64, were investigated under Section 8(3) of the National Anthem Act 1968.
"The investigation paper has been referred to the state A-G's Chambers for further action. We have suggested for them to be charged," he added.
Police investigations started after the clip of the S4S members refusing to stand during the national anthem went viral.
Subsequently, S4S said it was a protest against the undelivered promises to Sarawak.
S4S member Leong Shaow Tung, who is also known as Alex Leong, had told Free Malaysia Today (FMT ) that “Malaya” had been “very unfair” to Sarawak and Sarawakians.
Leong, who is mentioned on his Facebook page as a former reporter and editor, cited the distribution of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources as an example of how he feels the state has been exploited by the federal government since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
He also cited the statement by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the federal government was not in a position to fulfil its promise to raise the oil royalty to 20 percent for Sabah and Sarawak, which is what the Pakatan Harapan coalition had promised.
“So why should we stand up when the national anthem is being played?” he asked.
He said that Negaraku was chosen as Malaya's anthem for 1957 and was not the anthem of the federation.
“Sarawak only joined Malaysia in 1963. They should create a new song for the federation of Malaysia. Why are they still singing 'Negaraku'?” Leong added. - Mkini
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