PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged all parties to allow the police to investigate the case where a hardware shop operator hung the Jalur Gemilang upside down and not to interfere.
Making the remarks just hours before Umno Youth Dr Akmal Saleh leads a delegation to visit the Penang DAP to discuss the matter at 5.30pm, Chow said that all quarters should just move on and not prolong the matter.
Chow said various parties had already expressed their views.
“The police are currently investigating, and the investigation paper has been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor to decide.
“The police have also advised all parties to cancel a planned gathering in Bertam, Kepala Batas, today to prevent potential conflicts and ensure public safety."
Chow hopes that all parties can respect the law on this matter.
The controversy arose after a 21-second video filmed by a netizen outside a hardware store in Bertam, Kepala Batas surfaced on Saturday, showing the Jalur Gemilang being hoisted upside-down.
The incident sparked widespread public outrage, led by Akmal, who had threatened twice to visit the shop to "educate" its owner on the proper way of flying the flag.
Subsequently, there were various allegations of the Jalur Gemilang being wrongly depicted online or in photographs, which have emerged including one which implicated Terengganu Umno Youth.
Police have since detained and released the 59-year-old owner of the hardware shop while investigations were concluded.
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 1988.
His views were also echoed by former Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan, who had urged Akmal's colleagues to advise him to refrain from making any contentious moves over the issue.
He called for calm to prevail and for society not to overreact over the matter.
Meanwhile, Chow said that Penang can lead the country in tapping the huge potentials in the global digital economy based on its standing as a leading global manufacturer of electrical and electronics (E & E) components.
He also welcomed Agilent Technologies, which was recognised as the latest entrant to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network.
The WEF Global Lighthouse Network is a community of world-leading multinationals who have successfully adopted Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to drive financial and operations by transforming their factories and business models.
Agilent vice-president (global instrument manufacturing) Chow Woai Sheng said this important milestone showcases the company’s leadership in building factories of the future by integrating advanced digital technologies across its end-to-end operations. - August 14, 2025.
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