Latest news with #Shamrahayu
Sinar Daily
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Jalur Gemilang - Symbol of country's dignity
The improper use or display of the flag not only tarnishes the country's image but can also undermine the nation's dignity. 11 Aug 2025 10:26am Some students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jitra waved the Jalur Gemilang while attending the 2025 Kedah State-level Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang programme here recently. KUALA LUMPUR - Any dissatisfaction or discontent with the country is not a licence or permit to insult the national flag. Legal and constitutional expert Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz said public awareness of the correct and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang must be strengthened to safeguard the country's dignity and sovereignty. She said the adult generation must serve as role models for the young, as reflected in the saying "bapa borek, anak rintik', where good practices in handling and displaying the flag become a legacy for future generations. "In recent years, we have seen various mistakes made by our people when using or hoisting the flag, for example, flying it upside down, darkening its colours, displaying flags with the wrong number of stars or points, and so on. "When such errors occur, they reflect the identity of Malaysians themselves,' she told Bernama recently. Shamrahayu added that the improper use or display of the flag not only tarnishes the country's image but can also undermine the nation's dignity. Although there is no specific constitutional provision on national symbols, Shamrahayu said government guidelines regarding the flag should be more widely publicised, and if offences become frequent, formal regulations could be developed based on the principles of the Rukun Negara and the Constitution. "If we find that offences relating to the flag and national symbols are occurring often, then perhaps we should formalise guidelines based on the Rukun Negara and the Constitution to ensure proper and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang,' she said. Shamrahayu emphasised that the Jalur Gemilang is not merely a piece of coloured cloth, but a symbol of national sovereignty and identity. She urged Malaysians to understand the meaning behind each colour and symbol, and to fly the flag with pride, not only during Merdeka celebrations, but throughout the year. The Jalur Gemilang has been put up to enliven the National Month celebrations in conjunction with National Day on August 31. Photo by Bernama Meanwhile, Chairman of the Centre for Development, Social and Environmental Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Dr Novel Lyndon, said that the act of flying the national flag reflects a person's level of respect and love for the country. "This act is a symbol of patriotism that appreciates the services of freedom fighters and the history of building a sovereign nation," he said. He said the act of hoisting a flag that is worn, torn or not in accordance with the rules gives the impression that some people are less sensitive to the symbols of the nation, thus affecting the image of the country in the eyes of the local and international community. Such attitudes, he warned, could weaken national identity and erode patriotic spirit among the young generation. To address this, Novel proposed strengthening patriotic education from the school level through history and civics lessons, while using mass media, community programmes, and National Month celebrations to foster love for the nation. "Without this awareness, the flag will only be seen as a piece of cloth, no longer a symbol of dignity, pride, and the spirit of the struggle for independence,' he stressed. - BERNAMA
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Jalur Gemilang - Symbol of country's dignity
KUALA LUMPUR: Any dissatisfaction or discontent with the country is not a licence or permit to insult the national flag. Legal and constitutional expert Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz said public awareness of the correct and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang must be strengthened to safeguard the country's dignity and sovereignty. She said the adult generation must serve as role models for the young, as reflected in the saying 'bapa borek, anak rintik', where good practices in handling and displaying the flag become a legacy for future generations. 'In recent years, we have seen various mistakes made by our people when using or hoisting the flag, for example, flying it upside down, darkening its colours, displaying flags with the wrong number of stars or points, and so on. 'When such errors occur, they reflect the identity of Malaysians themselves,' she told Bernama recently. Shamrahayu added that the improper use or display of the flag not only tarnishes the country's image but can also undermine the nation's dignity. Although there is no specific constitutional provision on national symbols, Shamrahayu said government guidelines regarding the flag should be more widely publicised, and if offences become frequent, formal regulations could be developed based on the principles of the Rukun Negara and the Constitution. 'If we find that offences relating to the flag and national symbols are occurring often, then perhaps we should formalise guidelines based on the Rukun Negara and the Constitution to ensure proper and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang,' she said. Shamrahayu emphasised that the Jalur Gemilang is not merely a piece of coloured cloth, but a symbol of national sovereignty and identity. She urged Malaysians to understand the meaning behind each colour and symbol, and to fly the flag with pride, not only during Merdeka celebrations, but throughout the year. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Centre for Development, Social and Environmental Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Dr Novel Lyndon, said that the act of flying the national flag reflects a person's level of respect and love for the country. 'This act is a symbol of patriotism that appreciates the services of freedom fighters and the history of building a sovereign nation,' he said. He said the act of hoisting a flag that is worn, torn or not in accordance with the rules gives the impression that some people are less sensitive to the symbols of the nation, thus affecting the image of the country in the eyes of the local and international community. Such attitudes, he warned, could weaken national identity and erode patriotic spirit among the young generation. To address this, Novel proposed strengthening patriotic education from the school level through history and civics lessons, while using mass media, community programmes, and National Month celebrations to foster love for the nation. 'Without this awareness, the flag will only be seen as a piece of cloth, no longer a symbol of dignity, pride, and the spirit of the struggle for independence,' he stressed. – Bernama
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Jalur Gemilang the symbol of nation's dignity
Schoolchildren waving the Jalur Gemilang in conjunction with the 2025 National Day. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Any dissatisfaction or discontent with the country is not a licence or permit to insult the national flag. Legal and constitutional expert Associate Prof Datuk Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz said public awareness of the correct and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang must be strengthened to safeguard the country's dignity and sovereignty. She said the adult generation must serve as role models for the young, as reflected in the saying "bapa borek, anak rintik', where good practices in handling and displaying the flag become a legacy for future generations. "In recent years, we have seen various mistakes made by our people when using or hoisting the flag, for example, flying it upside down, darkening its colours, displaying flags with the wrong number of stars or points, and so on. "When such errors occur, they reflect the identity of Malaysians themselves,' she told Bernama recently. Shamrahayu added that the improper use or display of the flag not only tarnishes the country's image but can also undermine the nation's dignity. Although there is no specific constitutional provision on national symbols, Shamrahayu said government guidelines regarding the flag should be more widely publicised, and if offences become frequent, formal regulations could be developed based on the principles of the Rukun Negara and the Constitution. "If we find that offences relating to the flag and national symbols are occurring often, then perhaps we should formalise guidelines based on the Rukun Negara and the Constitution to ensure proper and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang,' she said. Shamrahayu emphasised that the Jalur Gemilang is not merely a piece of coloured cloth, but a symbol of national sovereignty and identity. She urged Malaysians to understand the meaning behind each colour and symbol, and to fly the flag with pride, not only during Merdeka celebrations, but throughout the year. Meanwhile, Centre for Development, Social and Environmental Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) chairman Prof Dr Novel Lyndon, said that the act of flying the national flag reflects a person's level of respect and love for the country. "This act is a symbol of patriotism that appreciates the services of freedom fighters and the history of building a sovereign nation," he said. He said the act of hoisting a flag that is worn, torn or not in accordance with the rules gives the impression that some people are less sensitive to the symbols of the nation, thus affecting the image of the country in the eyes of the local and international community. Such attitudes, he warned, could weaken national identity and erode patriotic spirit among the young generation. To address this, Novel proposed strengthening patriotic education from the school level through history and civics lessons, while using mass media, community programmes, and National Month celebrations to foster love for the nation. "Without this awareness, the flag will only be seen as a piece of cloth, no longer a symbol of dignity, pride, and the spirit of the struggle for independence,' he stressed.- Bernama
Sinar Daily
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Mechanism needed to determine sighah fatwa– Constitutional expert
The fatwa gazetting procedure must be clearly outlined and take into account the views of legal advisors. International Islamic University Malaysia law lecturer Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz SHAH ALAM – Authorities responsible for issuing fatwas must establish specific methods or mechanisms to determine the wording (sighah) or phrasing of fatwas, following the Federal Court's decision on Thursday allowing Sisters In Islam (SIS) Forum's bid to nullify the enforcement of a fatwa against the organisation. International Islamic University Malaysia law lecturer Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz said the fatwa gazetting procedure must be clearly outlined and should take into account the views of legal advisors. "Some states already have and practise such procedures, but there are also states that still lack a clear process regarding this matter. "The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs must take a firm stand by instructing all state fatwas to be reviewed in order to minimise the risk of being sued or brought to court," she said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Earlier, the Federal Court allowed the SIS Forum's appeal in a dispute involving a fatwa issued by the Selangor Islamic religious authority, which had declared the organisation as deviant and astray from Islamic teachings, as gazetted in 2014. The decision was delivered by a five-member panel of judges led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who, through a majority judgment, allowed the final appeal by SIS Forum and two other parties to challenge the validity of the fatwa. Shamrahayu explained that although the court did not annul the fatwa entirely, its impact remained significant. "We must be cautious when drafting the sighah of a fatwa, especially when it is intended to become law. As a form of legislation, a fatwa is subject to interpretation. "This isn't the first time such an institution has 'lost' in court over issues relating to the sighah of a fatwa. There was a similar case previously involving Kassim Ahmad in Kuala Lumpur," she added. Shamrahayu said although questions remained as to why a fatwa may not be enforceable against an 'artificial person', the public would have to wait for the Federal Court's full written grounds of the majority judgement.
