KUALA LUMPUR – Two weeks after the 2022 National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign was launched on July 30, many business premises and offices here still have not flown the national flag, or decorated their premises, in honour of the celebration.
Bernama observed that only some buildings in the federal capital such as government offices, hospitals, schools, roads and public parks have been decorated with the Jalur Gemilang.
Although various activities and programmes have been lined up by the government and local authorities to add more merriment to this year’s National Day celebration, after two years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the private sector’s involvement is still insipid.
Prof Datuk Teo Kok Seong opined that the trend of not flying the Jalur Gemilang at business premises or private buildings for this occasion was not new and had been happening in the last 10 years.
The Principal Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said such an attitude does not foster the spirit of nationhood as well as hurts the country’s image in the eyes of foreign tourists, who would not be able to experience the celebrative atmosphere of such as auspicious occasion.
“This attitude (of not flying the Jalur Gemilang) does not mirror love for the country. Why is it so hard to spend a few ringgit on buying the Jalur Gemilang when the celebration is only once a year? Flying the national flag is such an easy thing to show love for the country,” he said when contacted.
Teo stressed that the time has come for Section 107(2) of the Local Government Act 1976, which requires businesses to fly the Jalur Gemilang or the respective state flags during national and state celebrations, be amended as the current maximum fine of RM250 is not commensurable.
“This is because each year, we whine about the same matter, then there’ll be a long silence, and the matter crops up again next year. If there is enforcement by the local authorities, definitely more buildings will be flying our national flag.
“Increasing the fine and cancelling the business’ licence should serve as a lesson for those who fail to abide by the condition. They deliberately do not want to fly (the Jalur Gemilang) despite the existing regulation,” he said.
Meanwhile, a lecturer on heritage and civilisation at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Tan Sri Prof Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar, said: “A national flag is an article that mirrors a country and flying it during important occasions such as the National Day celebration should be a must for all quarters as an expression of love for the country.
“We always question and make demands on the government but we forget our own duties to create gaiety and happiness on such an important occasion, and show gratitude for the achievements made by the nation since its independence.”
Kuala Lumpur mayor, Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah said Kuala Lumpur City Hall would be contacting the building owners and business premises to urge them to fly the Jalur Gemilang so as to make the National Day celebration a success.
“I can go and look around the central business district of Kuala Lumpur first. With regard to the city hall, we’ve installed lots of flags including small ones among the trees to celebrate the 65th National Day,” he added. – Bernama, August 14, 2022
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