Make harsher laws for flag errors, Akmal says after PAS apology

Make harsher laws for flag errors, Akmal says after PAS apology


Published: May 13, 2025 3:26 PM
Updated: 6:17 PM


Summary

• Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh says stern action should be taken against Terengganu PAS for its recent Jalur Gemilang blunder.

• The Merlimau assemblyperson says it would only be fair to reiterate calls for stricter punishments, as previous similar cases had also drawn backlash.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has reiterated calls for stricter punishments against those involved in offences related to the display of the national flag.

The Merlimau assemblyperson’s remark comes amid an apology by Terengganu PAS after its recent blunder with the national flag. The flag used by the party in a logo had only 11 points on its star and 12 red and white stripes.

The Jalur Gemilang should have a 14-point star and 14 alternating red and white stripes, symbolising the 13 states in the federation plus the federal territories.

Akmal cautioned against normalising mistakes related to the national flag and said it would only be fair to call for stern action against Terengganu PAS, as previous similar incidents involving other quarters had also faced backlash.

“This is why we’re asking lawmakers to draft a law regarding this issue, so that harsher legal actions can be taken.

“If we asked for strict action against a newspaper (and) Education Ministry officers, the same kind of action should be taken against those involved in this case so that a lesson is taught,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Akmal also attached a screenshot of a news article on Terengganu PAS’ apology yesterday. The national flag was featured in a logo promoting the opposition party’s “Himpunan Teguh Memimpin Terengganu” rally slated to take place in Kemaman on May 29 and 31.

Flag errors

The latest gaffe came in the wake of a slew of other errors since last month, when the Jalur Gemilang was published with various defects.

They included Sin Chew Daily’s publication of an illustration featuring the Jalur Gemilang that was missing its crescent moon, while Kwong Wah Yit Poh published a photo of an electronic billboard at Bukit Bintang that displayed the flag with a 13-point star.

An exhibitor at a baby products expo also displayed a video that featured the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon.

The government also made such blunders with the Education Ministry’s SPM Analysis Report, featuring an AI-generated picture of a classroom that had a Jalur Gemilang with two stars and eight alternating stripes.

Apart from internal inquiries, authorities have also investigated past cases under various laws such as the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.