Flag display errors must be handled wisely, not all warrant legal action – Saifuddin
By M Hifzuddin Ikhsan
BANDAR BAHARU: Investigations into incidents involving the upside-down display of the national flag must be thorough to determine whether the act was intentional or a genuine mistake.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said any stern action or heavy penalties against individuals involved should be assessed based on the provisions and suitability of existing laws.
He explained that an overly harsh approach could instil fear among the public when displaying the Jalur Gemilang, despite the government encouraging people to fly the flag, especially during National Day celebrations.
“Love for the country and patriotism must not only be instilled in the hearts of every citizen, but also expressed visibly — for example, by displaying the Jalur Gemilang during significant national events such as Independence Month.
“If an incident occurs, such as the flag being flown upside down, the appropriate response is to lodge a report. The police will then take action under the Emblems and Names Act, and possibly the Minor Offences Act, depending on the circumstances.
“During the investigation, we will assess whether the act was intentional — whether it was meant to mock, showed a clear lack of patriotism, or was aimed at creating public unrest,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the Home Ministry’s Community Engagement Programme (Sua Mesra KDN) at Dataran Bandar Baharu today.
Further commenting, Saifuddin said that only cases proven to be deliberate will face firm action.
He added that if investigations find the incident occurred unintentionally or due to an honest mistake, then a different course of action should be considered.
“If after investigating, we find that the person genuinely didn’t mean to do it — maybe they were just enthusiastic about raising the flag and someone noticed the mistake and lodged a complaint — then we have to determine whether it was done with malicious intent or was a genuine error.”
“We must handle this issue wisely. Not every situation requires legal action, especially if it’s blown out of proportion.”
“Otherwise, people might become afraid to fly the flag, fearing they’ll make a mistake, and then they just won’t fly it at all. So we need to strike a balance. That’s why I urge the media to show the correct way to display the flag,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
