KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong today told Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to stop issuing threats to “personally educate” a shop owner over an improperly hoisted national flag.
In a Facebook post, the MCA president said he feared public intimidation of this kind would only backfire and make Malaysians “think twice” about proudly displaying the Jalur Gemilang.
Referring to remarks by Dr Akmal, who yesterday threatened to hold a “class” for a hardware store owner in Penang if he was not charged by Thursday, Wee reminded the Umno Youth chief that the country is not run on “arbitrary deadlines set by politicians”.
“Respect for our national flag is not in question, but enforcement must follow the rule of law, not political ultimatums or personal threats. We do not run this country on arbitrary deadlines set by politicians.
“Public intimidation of this kind will only backfire. Instead of encouraging more Malaysians to proudly display the Jalur Gemilang, it will make people think twice.
“Why risk flying the flag if a mistake could turn into personal threats and self-incrimination?” he said.
Wee added that leaders should inspire patriotism through education, example and lawful action, rather than playing the role of self-appointed enforcers.
“Turning a flag mishap into a political stunt only divides us and distracts from the real work of nation-building.
“Let the authorities do their job, and let us keep politics out of the flagpole,” he said.
On Aug 10, police arrested the 59-year-old man following reports lodged across the country.
Acting Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin had said a total of 16 police reports had been received nationwide on the incident, with 12 lodged in Penang and four in other states.
A clip of the man hoisting the Jalur Gemilang upside down went viral on social media today.
The video, posted on Facebook, showed the man raising the national flag incorrectly while another individual recorded the incident.
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