Loke: Hoist Jalur Gemilang with utmost respect and patriotism
04 Aug 2025 05:11pm
Anthony Loke - Photo by Bernama
SEREMBAN - All parties are reminded to treat the hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang with the utmost respect and sensitivity, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
The Seremban Member of Parliament also urged everyone to be more mindful when displaying the Jalur Gemilang, emphasising that it represents the national identity and should be flown with pride and a strong sense of patriotism.
"We have repeatedly reminded everyone not to take the flag lightly. When it is hoisted, it must be done correctly and with respect. There must be sensitivity in this matter, although mistakes can sometimes occur unintentionally,' he said.
"In this case, the school must prepare a report and submit it to the Ministry of Education so that an investigation can determine whether the act was intentional or not,' he told reporters after launching the Seremban Parliamentary-level National Month celebration at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (SMJK) Chan Wa here today.
He was commenting on the recent incident where the Jalur Gemilang was displayed upside down at the premises of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Chung Hua, Port Dickson last Friday.
According to a joint statement issued by the SJKC Chung Hua's board of governors, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and the school administration, all parties involved expressed regret over the incident, which they described as an unintentional oversight.
Earlier, in his speech, Loke emphasised that the spirit of independence and love for the Jalur Gemilang must be continuously nurtured among the people.
"Efforts to educate students about the true meaning of the national flag are crucial so that they understand the values and significance behind this national symbol.
"As Malaysians, we should take pride in having an independent nation and in our national identity, including the Jalur Gemilang,' he said.
In a separate development, Loke, who is also Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, announced that the proposal for the appointment of senators will be tabled in the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly sitting tomorrow.
"The usual practice in every state is for the component parties within the state government to propose names for the Senate appointments. Since 2018, both PKR and DAP have been allocated one seat each, and the nominee can be from any state, as long as they are Malaysians,' he said.
He was responding to criticism from the Negeri Sembilan DAP Veterans Club, which had reportedly condemned the state party committee for nominating an 'outsider' as senator.
At a recent press conference, members of the club wore face masks resembling sanitary napkins as a form of protest, mocking state DAP leaders for their silence over the appointment of Vincent Wu Him Ven, who is from Johor.
"Firstly, their actions were highly inappropriate and deeply insensitive. If they are dissatisfied, there are proper internal channels through which they can raise their concerns,' Loke said.
"In any political party, decisions are made by the leadership, and it is impossible to please everyone with every decision,' he added. - BERNAMA
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