Police have arrested a 59-year-old hardware store owner in Penang for hoisting the Jalur Gemilang upside down yesterday.
In a statement, acting state police chief Alwi Zainal Abidin said the investigation paper will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor’s office tomorrow for further action.
“The arrest of a male citizen has been successfully carried out,” he said, adding that the arrest was done in Kepala Batas.
He also said that 16 reports had been received nationwide over the incident, including 12 from within the state.
Yesterday, Seberang Perai Utara police launched an investigation into the incident in which a man had hoisted the Jalur Gemilang upside down.
District police chief Anuar Abd Rahman said the authorities were investigating the incident for improper use of emblems and names, insulting behaviour and improper use of network facilities.
Statements from the complainant as well as the suspect involved in the incident were also recorded.
A video, uploaded at about 12.30pm yesterday, shows a man hoisting the flag while another records it.
Malaysiakini reported that the hardware shop owner involved in the gaffe said he was measuring the length of an iron pole while hanging the flag and did not notice that the flag was upside down.
The owner said he rectified the mistake immediately after realising it.
He apologised for the blunder and lodged a report at the Kepala Batas police station to provide an explanation.
It was the sixth flag-related incident since January and the second case of improper handling of flags this month.
