Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the Jalur Gemilang installed without its crescent and star symbols at Dataran Batu Buruk in Terengganu was not deliberately put up that way.
According to Harian Metro, the Perikatan Nasional chairperson described the incident, which went viral last week, as an isolated case.
“We will conduct an investigation and ensure that such an incident does not happen again, regardless of who installed it, including members of the public and so on,” Samsuri (above) was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) mayor Lizan Che Mat said the Jalur Gemilang in question did in fact have the crescent and star symbols, but that section had come loose from its stitching.
“Following the incident, we took immediate action by taking down the flag last Friday and replacing it with a new Jalur Gemilang.
“The old flag did not lack the crescent and star, but the stitching on that section came loose due to strong winds on the day,” he reportedly said.
He said that in the future, the council would purchase fully assembled flags to prevent a similar incident from recurring.
‘Deafening silence’ from Umno Youth
In his Facebook statement today, DAP MP RSN Rayer questioned why the flag gaffe did not draw any response from Umno Youth, which had previously protested such incidents citing patriotism.
“The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters, including netizens. But what is most shocking is the deafening silence from Umno Youth.
“Perhaps Umno Youth is blind and mute because the incident did not happen in Penang,” the Jelutong MP jibed.
On Aug 14 last year, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh led a crowd of more than 100 protesters, including members of Umno and Bersatu’s youth wings, to “educate” a Penang hardware store owner after no charges were brought against him over an upside-down flag incident at the store, before the deadline set by Akmal.
Simultaneously, advocacy group Lawyers for Liberty staged a counter-protest to protect the owner, Pang Chin Tian, from harassment.
Police had launched an investigation into Pang. The man was later released on bail after being arrested as part of the probe initiated following the circulation of a 21-second video showing him and another man allegedly hoisting the national flag upside down.
On Aug 22, Akmal was subsequently charged at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court with making statements likely to cause fear or alarm to the public, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Akmal’s defence team said the charge against him concerns a Facebook video he had uploaded on Aug 11, calling for action against Pang.
State prosecution director Nordin Ismail presented the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Undeterred, Akmal said he would continue to fight to uphold the “dignity” of the Jalur Gemilang. - Mkini
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