Flag gaffe concerns are about patriotism, not politics, Akmal tells Loke
In a Facebook post, he appears to hit back at DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who yesterday alleged that certain quarters were out to politicise the recent flag incident involving a Chinese-medium school, in which the Jalur Gemilang was flown upside down.
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Focus Malaysia
8 minutes ago
- Focus Malaysia
'Hypocritical to act against Chinese school's upside-down flag when minister has yet to act on own flag blunder'
BRICKBATS have been hurled at Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek for vowing to take strict action against SJKC Chung Hua in Port Dickson for flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down. There is little doubt that the PKR Wanita chief who is awaiting a full investigation report into the matter is pressured to act given the opposition which has a bone to pick with DAP has played up the matter to perfection on various social media platforms. 'Has an upside-down flag become an annual event for Merdeka Day8 celebrations?' queried Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS) (@pengundi_sedar) on X. 'Every year, there's bound to be an incident. The excuses are cliché: 'a mistake,', 'don't politicise', '(oversight of a) disabled worker'. Bendera terbalik dah jadi acara tahunan sambutan Merdeka? Tiap tahun mesti ada insiden. Alasan pun klise: 'tersilap', 'jangan politikkan', 'pekerja OKU'. Bila berlaku di kawasan DAP, nada terus jadi defensif. Patriotisme bukan sekadar bendera tapi hormat dan tanggungjawab. — Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS) (@pengundi_sedar) August 4, 2025 'When this happens in a DAP constituency, the tone immediately turns defensive. Patriotism isn't just about the flag but respect and responsibility.' What infuriated sensible Malaysians with regard to Fadhlina's purported action is that the school has apologised for the incident that happened on Aug 1. A statement jointly issued by the school board, administration and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) explained that the error occurred when a school employee was installing flags before the end of their work hours. 'However, due to carelessness, one of the flags was installed upside down. This incident was recorded by the public and uploaded to social media,' read the statement. 'The school received the information around 5pm and took corrective measures immediately.' That Fadhlina is succumbing to political pressure to act against the school rather than to just conduct an internal probe for what is seemingly a 'honest mistake' has irked Malaysiakini subscribers who mocked her for giving the matter a full-blown treatment. 'Fadhlina, are there any countries or organisations which have not ACCIDENTALLY flown their flags upside down? Have YOU not made any mistakes at all?' rued DarkHorse. 'A sensible person would have considered the number of times the flag flown in the correct orientation vs the flag flown upside down before initiating an investigation. That would have been a good indication whether flying the flag upside down is accidental or otherwise.' Others berated the Nibong Tebal MP for 'having nothing better to do' when there is an array of weaknesses in the education system such as 'getting to the root of bully culture in schools and institutes of higher learning' or simply to emulate Finland in the quest to improve the quality of Malaysian education. The best reaction which gave Fadhlina a taste of her own medicine came from BluePanther4725 who wondered if she has taken any action over the flag blunder by her own ministry in April this year. 'Don't be a hypocrite and practise double standards!' – Aug 5, 2025 Main image credit: Che GuBard/Facebook
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Flag gaffe concerns are about patriotism, not politics, Akmal tells Loke
Concerns raised over the latest Jalur Gemilang incident are a matter of patriotism and not politics, said Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh. In a Facebook post, he appears to hit back at DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who yesterday alleged that certain quarters were out to politicise the recent flag incident involving a Chinese-medium school, in which the Jalur Gemilang was flown upside down.
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
MyKom arrives in Sarawak, out to support mainstream media, not against it
KUCHING (Aug 5): Media Komunikasi Nasional (MyKom) has officially expanded its operations here, positioning itself as an alternative media platform that supports and complements mainstream media, rather than competing with it. According to the Prime Minister's political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin, MyKom remains a credible and authoritative source within Malaysia's media and public communication landscape. 'I am confident that although it is alternative, MyKom will be recognised, authoritative, and become a key reference in the realm of news and public communication in the country,' he said at the launch here yesterday. He pointed out that in an era saturated with information and growing demands for timely and accurate communication, the need for impactful messaging at the state and community levels had become more critical than ever. 'The launch of MyKom today is a clear signal that Sarawak is also taking this need seriously. I urge MyKom to move forward with courage and integrity, always anchored by the interests of the people. 'Do not be afraid to be a voice of principle. Do not hesitate to highlight stories from rural communities, stories of everyday people, and those that often go unheard in the mainstream media,' he said. Apart from that, Azman also stressed that the media's influence should be used to unite the people rather than divide, and to educate rather than to provoke. 'Media content should aim to strengthen social values, rather than merely chasing viewership or popularity.' Meanwhile, MyKom Sarawak managing director Zulrusdi Mohd Hol said the platform would utilise various social media channels including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X to disseminate news content. 'As a responsible new media outlet, we uphold Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees the right to speak, express, assemble, and associate. 'We also operate in compliance with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Sedition Act,' he said. Zulrusdi said MyKom's mission could be best summarised through a quote by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof during the closing of the Sarawak Journalists Conference last month: 'Truth must be spoken, dignity defended, and hope never extinguished.' Among those present at the event yesterday were MyKom Sarawak advisor Dato Sri Hafsah Harun and MyKom Sarawak chairman Nazib Johari.
