A 59-YEAR-OLD hardware store owner has been arrested in Penang after a video of the Jalur Gemilang being flown upside down at his premises went viral, prompting public outrage and 16 police reports nationwide.
The man, a local business owner from Taman Bertam Permata, Kepala Batas, was taken into custody recently after footage showed the national flag being hoisted in the wrong orientation outside his shop.
The video, lasting just 21 seconds, triggered widespread condemnation, especially as it coincided with the Merdeka Month celebrations.
Penang Acting Police Chief, Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin, confirmed the arrest and said that police are taking the matter seriously.
"Police have arrested a 59-year-old local man for further investigation. The case is being probed under Section 5 of the Symbols and Public Titles (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 Sunday.
He added that the case file will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for potential charges on Monday.
Twelve of the 16 reports were lodged in Penang, with the remaining four coming from other states.
Alwi stressed that the national flag must be treated with the utmost respect.
"Police view such acts seriously and will take stern action against anyone found guilty. The Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of national pride and sovereignty and must be honoured appropriately," he said.
The incident, however, took another turn after the shop owner, Pang Chin Tian, came forward to explain that the mishap was unintentional. He said the flag was mounted upside down accidentally by a staff member as they were measuring the pole length for display.
“It happened in the morning. I didn’t notice the flag was inverted when I raised the pole,” Pang explained.
Call For Calm
In response to the growing online furore, rights group Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek urged the public to remain calm and criticised what he termed as vigilante behaviour from certain political figures.
Zaid specifically took aim at UMNO Youth Chief Dr Akmal Salleh’s announcement that he planned to “educate” the shop owner, calling it an act of intimidation.
“This is not education. It borders on bullying and mob incitement. The national unity government must step in to de-escalate the situation,” Zaid said.
Senior lawyer S. Raveentharan also weighed in, calling for “reason and proportionality” in how the incident is handled.
“The owner has explained and apologised. While there may still be consequences under the law, we must not allow mob justice or public shaming to override due process,” he said.
The authorities have reiterated the importance of properly displaying the national flag, particularly during the Merdeka period, and reminded the public to avoid actions that could be perceived as disrespectful or provocative. - August 10, 2025
