KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — DAP today criticised alleged attempts to pressure the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) into prosecuting a Penang shopkeeper who mistakenly displayed the Jalur Gemilang incorrectly outside his premises.
In a statement, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said such actions amounted to interference in prosecutorial decisions and called for the AGC to be allowed to operate independently without political influence.
“Threats by certain parties to stage a protest in front of the shop if no charges are brought are blatant bullying and unacceptable, particularly as the shopkeeper is a senior citizen,” he said.
“To deal with such immature parties, we must show higher rationality and act in a peaceful and courteous manner,” he added.
DAP said it would sponsor a giant Jalur Gemilang to be installed at the shop this evening to demonstrate that the flag is now correctly displayed.
The party added that if any group attempted to disturb the peace at the premises, its Penang members would respond by distributing 831 Jalur Gemilang flags for free as a gesture of unity ahead of National Day on August 31.
The incident began when a 59-year-old hardware shop owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, was investigated after the Jalur Gemilang was found hanging upside-down outside his premises.
He explained it was an unintentional mistake made while measuring a flagpole and that he corrected it soon after.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh had planned to stage a protest at the shop, but it did not proceed after police were stationed in the area.
