ANGKATAN Muda Keadilan (AMK) Pulau Pinang has strongly condemned the hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang upside-down outside a hardware store in Taman Bertam Perdana, Kepala Batas, describing the act as “disrespectful, irresponsible, and a disgrace to the dignity of the nation”.
Muhammad Zakwan Mustafa Kamal, the AMK Penang Chief, issued a firm call for three immediate actions: an investigation by authorities with legal action if proven deliberate, an open apology from the shop owner, and assurance that all premises in Penang display the national flag according to protocol.
“We wish to remind everyone that the Jalur Gemilang is not merely a decoration. It is a symbol of the sacrifices made by our independence fighters and of our national identity. Disregarding or mocking it is a betrayal of patriotic values,” he said in a statement.
“AMK Pulau Pinang will not remain silent when our national symbol is insulted. We stand firm with Malaysians who love this country, demanding justice and ensuring such incidents do not recur.”
“Enough with the excuses of ‘unintentional’ or ‘mistaken hanging’. What we need is awareness, not justification,” he added.
Police have recorded statements from both the complainant and the suspect in relation to a viral video showing the national flag hung upside-down in front of the shop.
Seberang Perai Utara District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Anuar Abd Rahman, said preliminary investigations are ongoing.
“Police have already taken statements from the complainant and the suspect. The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said in a statement.
NSTP’s on-site visit confirmed that the Jalur Gemilang has since been reinstalled correctly on the shop’s signboard.
Authorities have urged the public not to sensationalise the matter to avoid disturbing public order and interfering with the investigation. Those with further information are encouraged to contact the investigating officer, Inspector Safwan Hashim, at 04-576 2222 (ext 2275) or report to the nearest police station.
Meanwhile, hardware shop owner Pang Chin Tian, 59, has issued an apology to all Malaysians, admitting the error and expressing regret.
“What I did was wrong. I want to apologise – this is my first mistake,” Pang said when met outside the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters.
“This morning, I was trying to measure the height of the metal pole. The flag hadn’t been tied yet. After it was hoisted, we realised it was upside-down, so we took it down again,” he explained.
Pang and a young employee in his 20s had earlier been summoned to give their statements to the police.
He expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Kepala Batas UMNO Division Chief, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who personally lodged a police report, called for a thorough investigation, saying it should serve as a lesson to prevent such incidents in future.
A 21-second video showing a man hoisting the inverted national flag, while another filmed the act, went viral on social media earlier today.
Subsequent checks by NSTP confirmed the flag has since been correctly displayed at the site. - August 10, 2025
