
Sabah AMK urges respect in response to Zara Qairina tragedy
Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 Text Size: Sabah AMK leaders criticise Aliakbar's (inset) call for the public to wear black on National Day and Malaysia Day. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) has criticised Sabah Pas Commissioner Datuk Aliakbar Gulasan's call for the public to wear black during National Day and Malaysia Day as a gesture of solidarity over the death of Zara Qairina. In a statement issued after its leadership meeting today, Sabah AMK said the tragedy should be addressed with empathy and respect rather than turned into a political symbol through protest attire during national celebrations. The movement stressed that National Day and Malaysia Day are sacred occasions to be marked with patriotism, gratitude, and love for the nation, serving as a unifying force for all Malaysians. At the same time, AMK Sabah conveyed its sympathy and solidarity to Zara Qairina's family, acknowledging the deep loss and reiterating the public's desire for justice in the case. The group also urged the public to exercise caution in sharing information online, noting that unverified claims on social media could cause confusion and disrupt the ongoing investigation. Sabah AMK further called on all parties to allow the police to complete their investigation transparently and in accordance with the law, free from undue pressure or speculation. The youth wing expressed confidence that the investigation will reach a fair outcome for Zara Qairina while encouraging Malaysians to uphold the spirit of patriotism during the upcoming national celebrations. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Flying the flag without fear
Our flag belongs to all of us. Let it fly with pride, not fear. — Bernama photo AS National Day is approaching, an association founder posted on Facebook, perhaps in jest, perhaps not, that this year, to avoid trouble, they would rather not fly the flag at all. I laughed at first, but on second thoughts, how did we reach to such a point when flying or not flying the Jalur Gemilang is like a risky decision? Where has it gone wrong? It is not supposed to be this way – the national flag should be a uniting symbol, one that stirs pride, not anxiety. Yet, in 2025, it seems that putting up a flag can land you in a storm of political outrage, social media condemnation, and even police investigation. The current flare-up began with a 20-second video. A man was holding the Jalur Gemilang upside down while another recorded him. The clip was posted online, quickly shared by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, and accompanied by calls to brand the men 'traitors' to the nation. The store owner explained that he had been measuring the length of an iron pole and did not realise the flag was inverted. But the damage was done. Accusations flew. Political parties weighed in. Police swiftly opened investigations under three separate laws. Here we are again, engaged in public quarrel over a piece of cloth that is supposed to represent all of us. Yes, the Jalur Gemilang is more than fabric – it deserves respect as a symbol of our history, unity and shared aspirations. But symbols draw their strength from the people who believe in them, not from the number of threats, rallies, or police reports filed in their name. Mistakes happen. Sometimes they are careless; other times, they are accidents. Like in this case, it is simply the result of a man holding a pole the wrong way and was caught on handphone by another person, who shared it on social media. When our first instinct is to assume treachery rather than human error, patriotism becomes a minefield. I have been there myself this week in a smaller, less public way. My own design department sent me a draft for a National Day greeting advertisement. I looked at it and, out of habit, began counting the stripes on the flag in the design. Oh dear — only five instead of the correct seven red stripes. For a split second, I considered telling them to remove the flag entirely from the design to avoid any potential mistake or criticism. But I did not. Instead, I applied extra care to make sure the flag was correct before approving the final version. That's what respect looks like – act responsibly, not in fear. This is where we need to pause and ask ourselves: what happens when ordinary citizens, associations, or even media designers hesitate to use the flag because they are afraid of making a mistake? The chilling effect is real. The flag becomes a symbol of potential trouble rather than shared pride. It starts to belong not to the people, but to those loudest in claiming the right to defend it. If the sight of the Jalur Gemilang no longer inspires unity, but instead triggers anxiety about whether it's at the right height, at the right angle, or facing the right way to avoid a viral backlash, we have hollowed out its meaning. DAP Youth has accused Umno Youth of selective outrage, pointing out that mistakes involving the national flag by the Education Ministry or the Terengganu PAS chapter did not prompt similar rallies. This isn't a trivial point. Patriotism cannot be partisan. You can't cry 'traitor' when an opponent errs, but chuckle and move on when an ally does the same. If the flag truly stands for the whole country, then respect – and criticism – must be applied equally, regardless of political colour. Otherwise, the flag is no longer a national emblem – it becomes a political prop. The Jalur Gemilang was never meant to be a weapon for silencing others. It was meant to be a banner that flies over all of us, no matter our political leanings, ethnicity, religion, or place of birth. It is the flag that drapes our athletes when they win medals; the one schoolchildren wave on parade day; the one raised in moments of national joy and national mourning. When we fight over it as if it were the private property of one group, we strip it of its dignity. When we scare people into avoiding it altogether, we strip it of its meaning. Perhaps what we need is a cooler, kinder form of patriotism – one that teaches rather than threatens, that corrects rather than condemns. If someone hangs the flag wrongly, we should show them the right way, not show up in a crowd to shame them. If a school or a government department makes a printing mistake, we should point it out without politicising it. If a neighbour doesn't have a flag, maybe offer one instead of judging. In other words: let the flag fly because people love it, not because they fear being labelled unpatriotic. So, to the association that joked about not flying the flag this year to avoid trouble, I'd say fly it anyway. Fly it even if someone might nit-pick. Fly it even if social media seems ready to pounce. Fly it, because the Jalur Gemilang belongs to you as much as it belongs to anyone else – politicians, parties, or otherwise. And do what I did with my advertisement: check it twice, count the stripes, make sure it's right. Not because you're scared, but because you care. A flag flown in fear is not a flag honoured, but a flag flown with care, despite the noise, is a flag truly respected. This National Day, let's reclaim the Jalur Gemilang from the politics of overreaction. Let's put it back where it belongs – in the hands and hearts of the people. Jalur Gemilang malaysia national day


Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cabinet agrees to act against ‘irresponsible politicians', says minister
Science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang criticised an 'irresponsible politician' for stoking tensions during the Merdeka month and for bullying. PETALING JAYA : The Cabinet decided yesterday to have firm action taken against 'irresponsible politicians' inciting sentiments over the recent Jalur Gemilang controversy, according to federal minister Chang Lih Kang. Chang, who is minister for science, technology and innovation, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ministers were 'very concerned' that the issue would dampen public enthusiasm for National Day. Referring to reports of a police investigation regarding the controversy, he said: 'We shall wait and see whether anyone will eventually be charged in court,' Malaysiakini reported him as saying in a speech in Klang today. In a video on social media, Chang took further shots at an 'irresponsible politician' for stoking tensions during the Merdeka month. 'It's not only irresponsible, it is an act of bullying. Everyone knows who I am talking about.' His remarks appeared to be about Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who led a group to a hardware shop in Penang after its owner was reported to have accidentally hung the national flag upside down. 'We are a nation and society governed by the rule of law. If there is a problem, lodge a police report and let the authorities take action. 'You are not an enforcement agency. You cannot just bring a group of people to someone's shop, disrupt their business and bully them,' Chang said.


New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Jalur Gemilang: Don't take the law into your own hands
KUALA LUMPUR: The public has been urged not to take the law into their own hands or engage in unlawful acts against anyone committing offences related to the Jalur Gemilang flag, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that all matters involving investigations, prosecutions, and court decisions must be left entirely to the authorities, following a reminder issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) yesterday. "Do not act as the police, lawyers, or judge. It is wrong. Leave it to the police to investigate, the A-GC to prosecute, and the courts to decide," he said after launching the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya-level National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Flag 2025 campaign at Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Bahasa Melayu today. The launch was also attended by Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (strategic communications and creative industry) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin; Information Department director-general Julina Johan; and IPG Kampus Bahasa Melayu director Dr Masitah Mohammad Yusof. Fahmi said that some people had been called in by the police following a rally held to "teach" certain parties a lesson, but further action would be handled solely by the authorities. He said Malaysians should address issues related to the Jalur Gemilang respectfully and constructively. "As Malaysians, we can also play our part. If we see a Jalur Gemilang that has fallen, we should raise it. If it is faded, replace it with a new one. If it is improperly flown, correct it ourselves. Let us not sneer, curse, or act uncivilly. We must demonstrate our patriotic spirit during the national month while reminding one another of proper conduct," he added. Fahmi said that the programme included the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya-level Merdeka Jalur Gemilang Convoy, comprising 73 vehicles from the Communications Ministry's departments and agencies, the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN), National Security Council (MKN), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Suzuki V-Strom Malaysia motorsports club, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), and the Lembah Pantai Madani Community. Additional side events included the Safe Internet campaign, aimed at raising awareness of ethical online practices among teacher training institute students. Jalur Gemilang kits were also distributed to IPG senior management and representatives of 12 Madani communities in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya as part of the "1 House 1 Jalur Gemilang" initiative. - Bernama