Loke urges Malaysians to focus on patriotism this National Day, not flag controversies
Utusan Malaysia reported that Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the national flag is a symbol of unity and should embody love for the country, especially in the run-up to National Day on 31 August.
'The love for our nation must be present in our lives and everything we do. It should be embedded in our daily values, particularly within the Port Klang and logistics community.
'For this community, it is important that we work together to strengthen the logistics sector, which is the backbone of the national economy,' he said when launching the Port Klang Community Jalur Gemilang Programme in Klang today.
Recent incidents of the national flag being flown upside down, including on a pole at a hardware shop in Penang, have drawn public criticism nationwide.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
4 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
5 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


Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
We have become overly sensitive as a nation
Fewer flags are flying in front of homes this year although this is August – Merdeka month. And we have to thank some of our politicians and social media activists for it. People are saying that it is better to not fly the flag than for someone to find fault and lodge a police report against them. I was at a function recently and a couple of elderly gentlemen shook their heads in response to the posturing and arguments over a recent case of a shopkeeper mistakenly flying the national flag upside down. 'What's wrong with these guys? We should be celebrating the flag. We should be encouraging people to fly the flag, not put fear into them so that they prefer not to fly the flag,' one of them said. Another said: 'It's a voluntary act to show our loyalty to the nation and to celebrate Malaya's independence from Britain but if this is going to cause me a problem, I'd rather not fly the flag. I will show my loyalty in other ways.' I can understand why many Malaysians are upset when a flag is flown upside down. They see it as disrespecting the nation. They rightly argue that after 68 years every Malaysian should know how to fly the flag. If it is intentional, the law must take its course; but we must remember that people do make mistakes. And we have to make allowances for that. In the 1960s and 1970s, if such a mistake had been made, people would just point it out and then move on. I have personally seen, sometime in the early-seventies, a man telling a shopkeeper that the national flag outside his shop was upside down. The shopkeeper looked surprised and quickly went to set it right, thanking the man in the process. The passer-by smiled and cycled off. There was no acrimony, no accusation of disloyalty, no police report. Then again, we were not as divided as we are today and politicians were generally more responsible. And we had no social media. Today, if someone has a flag that is flying upside down, he is accused of being disloyal, even a traitor to the nation, and a police report is lodged against him. And the police, who should spend their time fighting crime and keeping the streets safe, have to expend manpower and resources just to investigate this report. Today, even simple, innocuous remarks can be misunderstood and given a racial or religious tint; even statements of fact can be seen as an affront to this or that group. We tend to see almost everything with racially or religiously tinted lenses. We tend to view almost every act or remark with suspicion. As someone who has experienced life in the 1960s and 1970s, I feel that people today are overly sensitive, especially in matters related to race and religion. In those days, Malaysians were interested in resolving issues. If a flag was upside down, they would inform the person who had put up the flag to rectify the mistake. If someone had inadvertently made a remark or done something that hurt the feeling of some community or other, he would be forgiven if he sincerely apologised. But then again, people were not as hurt by remarks in those days. Today, it appears, many are more interested in looking like champions than in seeking solutions. In the process, Malaysians are growing further apart. I feel especially sad because this is Merdeka month – a period when we should focus on building bridges and coming closer together as a nation. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.