Tok Mat calls for calm over flag issue
SEREMBAN: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has called for calm over the issue of an upside-down national flag.
"Every action leads to a reaction. We don't want things to get out of hand," said Mohamad, who is also the foreign minister.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Rembau Umno divisional meeting, Mohamad said it was important that all parties avoid causing tension that could threaten national harmony.
Mohamad, who is commonly known as Tok Mat, was commenting on the ongoing war of words between Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and several DAP leaders over the matter.
On Thursday, Dr Akmal led more than 300 supporters from Umno, Bersatu, and Pas in a 1.4km march to protest a hardware store that had displayed the Jalur Gemilang upside down.
This prompted criticism from DAP leaders who accused Dr Akmal of bullying and intimidation.
The party's secretary-general, Anthony Loke, also called on DAP members to lodge police reports against Dr Akmal.
There were also calls from DAP Socialist Youth leaders for the party to sever ties with Dr Akmal.
Police are investigating Dr Akmal for sedition, criminal intimidation, and misuse of network facilities to transmit offensive content.
Mohamad said any action taken in relation to the issue must be fair, and this included action against those who hoisted the flag wrongly.
The store owner, Pang Chin Tian, who is being investigated by the police, has apologised for the incident last Saturday, saying it was unintentional.
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