The New Straits Times
by ADRIAN LAI AND MAZLINDA MAHMOOD
by ADRIAN LAI AND MAZLINDA MAHMOOD
NOT OUR WAY: Respect the Jalur Gemilang and leaders chosen by the people, protesters told
KUALA
LUMPUR: THE demand for the Jalur Gemilang to be replaced was roundly
condemned by all quarters yesterday -- from both sides of the nation's
political divide, legal experts and personalities alike.
Those
who made their demand at a gathering on the eve of Merdeka were also
chastised for uncouth behaviour when some of them acted lewdly while
others stepped on the picture of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Even opposition stalwart Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat chastised the protesters, calling such actions un-Islamic.
1Malaysia
Foundation trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, himself a vocal opposition
member of parliament in his day, also criticised the actions of the few.
"Their actions were highly disrespectful and uncalled for."
Lee
said if the individuals involved had political differences with the
ruling government, they should express their dissent and opposition in
more appropriate ways.
"Resorting to acts of vulgarity and indecency does not speak well of our culture and values," he said in a statement.
The
protesters, who claimed to be championing a better electoral system for
the country, had created alternative flags to replace the Jalur
Gemilang and distributed flyers to the people to support their cause
during the incident.
Pictures
of them committing vulgar acts on pictures of Najib, Rosmah and
Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof had gone viral on
the Internet.
Video clips of the acts were also uploaded onto YouTube.
1Malaysia
Foundation chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar, meanwhile, stressed that it
was important for the people to stand up against such individuals who
sought to defile the national flag and insult the prime minister.
He
said the act of desecrating the national flag did not represent the
sentiments of Malaysians as a whole as it was the work of a minority
group.
"It's
significant to note that even opposition leaders and some Bersih
activists have distanced themselves from the act of wanting to create
another national flag," he said.
Chandra
said although the act was an isolated incident, it was imperative for
society to criticise and repudiate it as the Jalur Gemilang was a
national institution.
"And
all national institutions, including the national anthem and the
Federal Constitution, cannot be denigrated and tarnished in any way."
Chandra
added that it was equally important for the perpetrators to be
admonished publicly to deter "irresponsible elements" from committing
such acts in the future.
"Malaysians,
in general, do not endorse (such a behaviour). They, however, have to
continue speaking up against such acts to show that they understand the
significance of the Jalur Gemilang."
Former
DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, whose criticisms against
the Bersih movement led to his resignation from the party in May, also
expressed unhappiness over the incident, calling it disgraceful and
saddening.
"People
who claim to be Malaysians must uphold the flag that represents them.
If they are thinking otherwise, they should get out of this country," he
said yesterday.
Tunku
Aziz added that such acts could not be tolerated as the Jalur Gemilang
was a symbol of the country's sovereignty and independence.
"If
this is how people carry out protests, then it is very saddening. The
demand to replace the national flag is tantamount to treason and the
government must take stern action against them," he said.
Gerakan
president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was hosting the party's Hari
Raya open house function here yesterday, said showing disrespect for the
Jalur Gemilang was the same as not respecting the country's
constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
He also condemned the protesters for stepping on Najib's pictures.
"To
trample on photographs of leaders is wrong, what more to do so on the
prime minister, who was chosen by the rakyat," he said.
In
Shah Alam, Selangor Barisan Nasional coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin
Mohamed said the act of insulting leaders by stripping off pants and
showing bare bottoms was extremely rude and uncivilised.
He
said there were no appropriate words that could be used to describe the
despicable act as it happened in an educated community.
"It was very shameful and the perpetrators are despicable," he said after visiting an Islamic school.
Pictures
of a youth baring his bottom to mock leaders have been widely
circulated on the Net, including the social networking website,
Facebook.
Heirs
of Malaya Association (Waris Malaya) adviser Abdul Raof Mokhtar said
the action was unacceptable in a civilised community and called for
stern measures against the perpetrators for stoking extreme hatred
towards the country's leaders.
"They
have to use their minds to express their feelings. They should not
resort to acting that way as it is against our religion, norms and
values," he said.
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