UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has responded defiantly to a call by Penang DAP Youth leaders urging party leadership to cut political ties with him, following his involvement in a protest outside a hardware shop in Kepala Batas.
“By all means, bring it on,” said Dr Akmal when asked about the demand, which came after he led a demonstration over the alleged disrespect of the Jalur Gemilang. The protest followed an incident in which a shop was found to be displaying the Malaysian flag upside down.
Dr Akmal, who is also the Merlimau assemblyman and Melaka state executive councillor for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security, insisted the gathering was not politically motivated.
“This gathering had nothing to do with any political party, even though I am from UMNO. It was not a political protest, and it should not be politicised. It was purely about upholding the honour of our country,” he said during a press conference after providing a two-hour statement to police at the Dang Wangi district headquarters.
He further added, “If DAP wants to politicise this and then accuse us of politicising it—by all means. Earlier, DAP Youth in Penang called for political ties with me to be severed. My response is simple: by all means, bring it on.”
The DAP had earlier directed its youth wing, DAPSY, to file police reports nationwide against Dr Akmal’s actions, which it described as provocative and unlawful.
Responding to those allegations, Dr Akmal stressed the demonstration was peaceful and that there was no provocation or aggression, contrary to what some quarters had claimed.
He also took a firm stance on the flag incident, saying such acts must be taken seriously and not dismissed with a simple apology.
“If it was a first-time mistake, perhaps we could forgive it. But this keeps happening, year after year, during Merdeka month. If the act was deliberate—hanging the flag upside down and recording it—it is insulting to all Malaysians,” he said.
He called for stern legal action against any parties found to have intentionally disrespected national symbols, warning that without consequences, such acts could continue unchecked. - August 16, 2025
