PENANG DAP has called on police to take firm action against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh for leading a street procession in Kepala Batas, claiming the gathering defied police instructions and disrupted public order amid Merdeka month celebrations.
The march, involving more than 300 supporters from Umno, Bersatu, and PAS, took place yesterday afternoon.
Participants walked 1.4km through Bertam waving the national flag and chanting “Pertahan Jalur Gemilang” and “Merdeka”, in protest against a local hardware store allegedly displaying the Malaysian flag upside down.
Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong condemned the march as “provocative and unlawful”, stating it undermined national unity during a sensitive period.
“DAP Penang urges police to take action against him to send a message that such provocations will not be tolerated in this country, especially during the Merdeka month,” said Sim, adding that the party would be filing a police report over the incident.
State DAP information head Joshua Woo also criticised the protest, highlighting that DAP had complied with police instructions to avoid public gatherings in the area.
“We in DAP respected the call by the police and stood down. We just handed out flags to the community to mark the Independence Day celebrations due soon, but another group held a protest,” said Woo.
According to Penang police, a directive had been issued earlier by State Police Chief Datuk Azizee Ismail advising all parties against assembling at the location, citing safety and public order concerns, and urging the public to await the Attorney-General’s decision regarding the flag incident.
Despite the warning, Dr Akmal proceeded with the march, asserting that he only intended to “educate” the outlet owner and staff on the importance of correctly flying the Jalur Gemilang.
“I am not a bully,” he said, while marching and shouting “Merdeka” along the route. “The national flag is sacred and its symbolic presence must always be respected.”
A light strike force unit was deployed to monitor the situation, which concluded without reports of any fracas.
The protest follows recent controversy after images of an upside-down Jalur Gemilang at a Bertam hardware shop went viral, prompting public backlash and police investigation. - August 15, 2025
