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Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Only here for big flag and nasi kandar, Umno Youth chief says after IGP warns against Jalur Gemilang clash in Penang
KEPALA BATAS, Aug 14 — Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has today suggested that he was not out to cause trouble with a planned event on Jalur Gemilang in Bertam here. In a brief post on Facebook, he said the wing's members are just here for the scenery and food. 'We just came to see the big flag and have some nasi kandar,' he wrote, attaching a news article citing Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. 'The big flag' refers to the giant Jalur Gemilang hung by DAP at a hardware store on Jalan Bertam Perdana, which recently went viral for flying the national flag upside down. Earlier, the police urged the cancellation of a planned gathering in Bertam here today over the issue of Malaysian flag, to prevent any confrontation between opposing groups. PDRM said the move was to safeguard the safety of the local community and maintain public order, after both Umno Youth and DAP planned to host events on the matter. The controversy began when a 59-year-old hardware shop owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, was investigated after the Jalur Gemilang was seen hanging upside-down outside his premises. The shop owner has reportedly said it was an unintentional mistake made while measuring a flagpole, which he corrected soon after. Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh previously said it planned to hold a 'class' for the Penang shop owner, but later cancelled it after a warning by the police. DAP then announced it would sponsor a giant Jalur Gemilang for the shop and mobilise Penang party members to distribute 831 flags, should anyone attempt to stir trouble.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Malay Mail
IGP warns of ‘unhealthy confrontation', urges Umno Youth and DAP to call off rival Jalur Gemilang events in Penang
KEPALA BATAS, Aug 14 — The police have urged the cancellation of a planned gathering in Bertam here today over the issue of Malaysian flag, to prevent any confrontation between opposing groups. PDRM said the move was to safeguard the safety of the local community and maintain public order, after both Umno Youth and DAP planned to host events on the matter. 'The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) views seriously any matter that has the potential to affect the safety and well-being of the public,' said Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. 'To safeguard the safety of the local community and to prevent any form of unhealthy confrontation between opposing groups, PDRM advises all parties involved to cancel the planned gathering,' he added. The police said they had investigated an incident involving the Jalur Gemilang being flown upside down, which had gone viral on social media. A total of 38 police reports were lodged nationwide over the incident, comprising 17 in Penang and 21 in other states. The investigation also covers actions against individuals who recorded and disseminated the footage under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The investigation paper was submitted to the Penang Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office on August 11 and is currently under review. The controversy began when a 59-year-old hardware shop owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, was investigated after the Jalur Gemilang was seen hanging upside-down outside his premises. The shop owner has reportedly said it was an unintentional mistake made while measuring a flagpole, which he corrected soon after. Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh previously said it planned to hold a 'class' for the Penang shop owner, but later cancelled it after a warning by the police. DAP then announced it would sponsor a giant Jalur Gemilang for the shop and mobilise Penang party members to distribute 831 flags, should anyone attempt to stir trouble.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Malay Mail
Penang police caution residents over planned Bertam rally
GEORGE TOWN, Aug 13 — Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail has urged the public not to attend a planned gathering in Bertam, Kepala Batas tomorrow, which is in protest of a shopkeeper who displayed an upside-down Jalur Gemilang. He said the advisory is aimed at ensuring the safety of local residents and maintaining public order. 'We are aware of a group organising a gathering tomorrow and we are advising everyone not to take part in the gathering,' he said in a statement issued today. He also called on all parties to remain patient while awaiting a decision from the office of the public prosecutor. 'Do not take any action that could cause any form of tension,' he added. Datuk Azizee warned that the police will take firm action against anyone who breaks the law or causes a breach of peace, disorder, riot, or other criminal activity, in accordance with existing legal provisions. Regarding the upside-down flag incident, he said investigations have also been conducted on the individual who recorded and shared the video under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'As of today, a total of 38 police reports has been received nationwide, 17 from Penang and 21 from other states,' he said. He added that the investigation papers were completed and submitted to the Penang public prosecutor's office on August 11, and are now being reviewed by the relevant authorities.
The Star
11-08-2025
- The Star
Hardware store owner held over inverted Jalur Gemilang
KEPALA BATAS: Police detained the owner of a hardware store after a viral video showed the Jalur Gemilang being flown upside down in front of his shop here. Acting Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the 59-year-old man was detained on Saturday night. He said police have so far received 16 reports over the incident – 12 lodged in the state and four outside Penang. 'The investigation papers will be referred to the Penang deputy public prosecutor's office tomorrow (today) with a proposed charge,' he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported. The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988. DCP Mohd Alwi said police viewed such acts seriously and reminded the public to respect the Jalur Gemilang as a symbol of national sovereignty. On Saturday, a 21-second video went viral on social media showing two men at a hardware store who appeared to have deliberately hoisted the Jalur Gemilang upside down, drawing public outrage. Following this, several non-governmental organisations and Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican lodged police reports.
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Police probe man flying Jalur Gemilang upside down in Kepala Batas
KEPALA BATAS: Police have launched an investigation after a video surfaced showing a man holding the Jalur Gemilang upside down outside a shop in this northern Penang district. The 21-second clip, which went viral on social media, depicts two individuals at a hardware store with the national flag displayed incorrectly while being recorded. Seberang Perai Utara district police chief ACP Anuar Abd Rahman confirmed receiving a report from a complainant who spotted the footage on Facebook at 12.30 pm yesterday. 'The complainant suspected the incident occurred in Kepala Batas and subsequently filed a report at the local police station,' Anuar said in an official statement. Authorities are probing the case under three separate laws - Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988. Investigators have begun recording statements from both the complainant and the suspect involved in the controversial incident. The video has drawn widespread criticism from social media users, with several NGOs and political figures condemning the act. Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican joined those lodging police reports, stressing the importance of safeguarding national symbols. 'Malaysia has existing laws to protect the dignity of our national emblems,' Reezal Merican stated. 'Proper investigations and appropriate action must be taken to prevent such disrespectful incidents from happening again.' The police have not disclosed further details about the suspects or potential motives behind the flag incident as investigations continue. – Bernama
