DAP leaders urge forgiveness, Umno Youth demands ‘stern action’ over flag incident

DAP leaders urge forgiveness, Umno Youth demands ‘stern action’ over flag incident

SHAH ALAM – From missing stripes to misplaced colours, Malaysia’s beloved Jalur Gemilang has seen its share of design mishaps.

The latest controversy, an upside-down flag flown at a Chinese primary school in Port Dickson, has once again stirred public outrage, with political voices now calling for calm.

The incident occurred at a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) in Port Dickson, where a worker mistakenly hoisted the national flag in reverse.

Images quickly went viral, reigniting public frustration over repeated blunders involving the country’s most important national symbol.

Coming just weeks before National Day, the incident has raised uncomfortable questions: Are national symbols being treated with the respect they deserve? Why do such errors keep recurring in vernacular schools?

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DAP Lukut state assemblyman Choo Ken Hwa confirmed that the flag was flown upside down, but quickly clarified that the mistake was made by a mentally disabled worker.

“This happened because the headmaster had engaged a worker with an intellectual disability and he was the one who put up the flags around the school.

“He used an old flag, and when putting it up, it was placed upside down. After being informed by the public, the flag was taken down within two hours,” Choo said in the 15th Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly.

Choo went further, urging the public to stop spreading the image and not to blow the issue out of proportion.

“I was on the ground that day. I personally coordinated the programme with the school and PIBG. This is not a matter to go viral,” he said, urging that the issue be forgiven and forgotten.

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Many Malaysians are not so quick to forget. The upside-down flag, universally recognised as a sign of distress or disrespect, has appeared before in similar contexts, often involving Chinese schools.

DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke echoed the sentiment, warning against politicising the matter.

“Every time something like this happens, there will be people who try to make it political. I believe this was just a mistake. The Education Ministry is investigating whether it was intentional or not. There is no need for any party to take advantage of this for political gain,” Loke told reporters after launching the Merdeka Month celebrations in Seremban.

Loke also reminded all Malaysians to treat the Jalur Gemilang with respect, especially during National Month.

“We always remind everyone, when we fly the Jalur Gemilang, do it correctly and respectfully. Sensitivity is important,” he said, adding that schools should set the right example in fostering patriotism.

The school involved, SJKC Chung Hua, has since issued a public apology for the mistake, with both the PIBG and Board of Governors expressing regret over the incident.

Despite apologies from the school and DAP leaders, the backlash has not abated.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has called for stern action to be taken against those responsible.

Port Dickson police chief Maslan Udin confirmed that a 30-year-old suspect has been identified in connection with the case.

“The flag was brought down on the same day. We hope the public will stop circulating the photograph,” he said.

Authorities are investigating the incident under four separate laws:

Section 504 of the Penal Code — Intentional insult likely to provoke a breach of peace or another offence (up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both).
Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 — Indecent, abusive, or threatening behaviour likely to disturb public peace.

Section 5 of the Emblems and Names Act 1963 — Prohibits unauthorised use of protected emblems or names (up to RM20,000 fine, three years’ prison, or both).

Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 — Criminalises transmission of offensive or false content intended to annoy, abuse, or harass (fines and potential imprisonment).

This is not an isolated case. In April this year, a local Chinese-language newspaper apologised after publishing a front-page image of the Jalur Gemilang without its crescent moon, a key symbol of Malaysia’s Islamic heritage.

The error appeared in its April 15 edition covering the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Malaysia.

The artwork depicted a symbolic boat carrying the Malaysian and Chinese flags to mark bilateral ties.