JOHOR’S Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, has stressed that the act of hoisting the Jalur Gemilang and Johor state flag upside down is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue.
In a strong rebuke delivered via a speech read by Johor Executive Councillor for Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources, Lee Ting Han, at the Johor Bahru District National Day Parade on Sunday, Onn Hafiz said: “Flying the flag in the wrong manner is tantamount to disrespecting the symbols of our nation and state. It is deeply regrettable.”
“Nonetheless, I must stress that this issue cannot be ignored. At the same time, we must not become overly distracted by it to the point we lose sight of the broader meaning of Merdeka.
“The law must be upheld, and mistakes must be corrected. But the spirit of independence urges us to look ahead – to how Johor and Malaysia can continue to prosper and command respect on the world stage,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of a local authority order by the Pontian Municipal Council to temporarily shutter a dental clinic and mini-market in Pekan Nanas after both were found to have flown the flags upside down. The premises were ordered closed for 30 days.
In conjunction with the Merdeka month celebrations, the Menteri Besar also urged every household in Johor to take part in the “One Home, One Jalur Gemilang” initiative.
“Let every home, school, village, office, and business be adorned with our national flag. Let Johor become a sea of red, white, blue, and yellow – a symbol of our unwavering love for this land,” he said.
Onn Hafiz added that hoisting the flag should not be viewed merely as a symbolic gesture, but as a call to action – a source of inspiration for citizens to serve, work diligently, and contribute to the success of the nation.
“Only with this spirit will Johor continue to rise and Malaysia continue to be respected. True independence is not just freedom from colonial rule, but from the chains of negative thinking, divisiveness, and prejudice,” he declared.
“A truly independent spirit is one rooted in unity, social integration, economic strength, and the building of a harmonious, progressive, and competitive society.” - August 31, 2025
