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.
