PPP chief condemns upside-down display of national, state flags

JOHOR BAHRU - The act of hanging the Jalur Gemilang and the Johor state flag upside down at a factory in Kulai cannot be dismissed as an innocent mistake and must not be tolerated, a political party leader says.

Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia (PPP) president Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan said there was no room for carelessness, negligence or ignorance when it came to national symbols such as the Jalur Gemilang, the Negaraku, the national coat of arms and the Rukun Negara.

He said he was deeply troubled that such incidents continued to recur, adding that he believed certain quarters were still showing a lack of respect for national symbols, whether through deliberate disrespect or sheer indifference.

"The Jalur Gemilang, the national anthem, the national emblem and all other symbols representing Malaysia are a source of pride for every Malaysian. They must be respected, honoured and treated with the dignity they deserve," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Any act that disrespects these symbols of sovereignty is unacceptable and we must not tolerate such incidents," he added.

He questioned how anyone could claim ignorance on matters of national respect, pointing out that Malaysians had been taught about the Jalur Gemilang, the Negaraku, the Rukun Negara and their responsibilities as citizens since their school days.

"Every week, school pupils assemble, sing the national anthem and witness the raising of the Jalur Gemilang. We go through this throughout primary and secondary school. Is there really anyone who can claim to have forgotten these values after finishing school?" he said.

He stressed that individuals who deliberately disrespected national symbols or disregarded the principles that united Malaysians must face appropriate action under the law.

He also noted that incidents involving the improper or disrespectful display of the Jalur Gemilang surfaced every year, particularly during the independence month.

"This must stop. We cannot allow every incident to pass with just an excuse that it was a mistake. When it involves the dignity and identity of the nation, greater care and a stronger sense of responsibility must be practised," he said.

He also called on Malaysians to honour the sacrifices of those who had fought for the country's independence.

Earlier, police detained a Nepali national and a local woman after the Jalur Gemilang and the Johor state flag were hung upside down at a spare parts factory in Indahpura Industrial Centre on Monday.

Photographs of the inverted flags circulated widely on social media, drawing public outrage.

The Kulai Municipal Council immediately shut down the factory's operations on the same day.

Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor was reported as saying the action was taken to ensure the company's management was held fully accountable for the negligence, which had compromised the nation's symbols of sovereignty and dignity.