Friendly fire: DAP Youth leader slams Akmal over China flags kerfuffle
Published: Oct 26, 2024 12:43 PM
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s response to the issue of China flags being waved during a festival in Teluk Intan has irked a DAP Youth leader, who accused Akmal of playing to the opposition’s tune.
DAP Youth national varsity affairs bureau director Ho Chi Yang claimed that Akmal’s remarks were only furthering rumours spread by PAS against the Guan Gong cultural festival and fanning racial tensions.
“As a member of the unity government and an executive member of the Malacca state government, Akmal has not conducted himself with reason or professionalism.
“Instead, he has acted with malice by stirring up baseless rumours created by PAS in the first place.
“Such an irresponsible remark tarnished the reputation of the Chinese Malaysian community, created unnecessary racial tensions, and undermined the unity among all ethnic groups,” Ho (above) said in a statement.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh
The Tanah Rata state assemblyperson also criticised Akmal for frequently ordering Umno Youth members to lodge police reports, which he said often caused the law enforcement agency to divert their already limited resources to handle “nonsensical political drama”.
Apology ‘no longer enough’
It is understood that the Tanah Rata representative was referring to a statement made by Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, who accused the festival organiser and participants of being unpatriotic and that it can be construed as challenging the country’s sovereignty.
Razman also accused DAP, particularly its Perak chief Nga Kor Ming, of being involved in the incident. The party has since denied the allegation and lodged a police report against the PAS leader.
Following the incident, festival organiser Guan Gong Cultural Association has apologised and clarified that the individuals filmed waving the flags were China nationals, not Malaysians.
Subsequently, Akmal issued a response on Facebook, expressing his outrage at the incident and dismissing the association’s apology.
“What is going on here? Holding a public procession without a permit and raising the China flag, with not a single Malaysian flag in sight - this has gone too far,” Akmal said.
Referring to another recent incident at a school in Penang, he emphasised that apologies were no longer enough.
The Tanah Rata state assemblyperson also criticised Akmal for frequently ordering Umno Youth members to lodge police reports, which he said often caused the law enforcement agency to divert their already limited resources to handle “nonsensical political drama”.
Apology ‘no longer enough’
It is understood that the Tanah Rata representative was referring to a statement made by Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, who accused the festival organiser and participants of being unpatriotic and that it can be construed as challenging the country’s sovereignty.
Razman also accused DAP, particularly its Perak chief Nga Kor Ming, of being involved in the incident. The party has since denied the allegation and lodged a police report against the PAS leader.
Following the incident, festival organiser Guan Gong Cultural Association has apologised and clarified that the individuals filmed waving the flags were China nationals, not Malaysians.
Subsequently, Akmal issued a response on Facebook, expressing his outrage at the incident and dismissing the association’s apology.
“What is going on here? Holding a public procession without a permit and raising the China flag, with not a single Malaysian flag in sight - this has gone too far,” Akmal said.
Referring to another recent incident at a school in Penang, he emphasised that apologies were no longer enough.
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