Shops shut as cops cordon off street ahead of Akmal's flag rally in Penang
Low Chia Ming
Published: Aug 14, 2025 5:12 PM
Updated: 8:13 PM
An entire row of shops in Kepala Batas closed their doors by 3pm today to avoid being caught up in a “flag inspection” rally mobilised by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.
It is understood that some businesses opted to remain shut for the entire day, while others began closing gradually after midday as tensions mounted over the controversial demonstration.
Malaysiakini observed that police had cordoned off the entire shopping row with tape, preventing public access to the area housing the targeted hardware store, where the recent “upside-down” flag blunder happened.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) director Zaid Malek, who had earlier vowed to “educate” Akmal on obeying the law and protect the hardware store owner Pang Chin Tian (Feng Jin Zhen) from harassment, was present at the scene.
Zaid said he was uncertain whether the businesses had been instructed to close or made the decision independently, but noted that their closures showed they felt threatened by the planned rally.
He seized the opportunity to again criticise Akmal for being obstinate, repeatedly stoking the issue to create division and undermine harmony, accusing him of clearly committing criminal intimidation and disturbing the peace.
DAP members led by National Veteran Club chief Lay Hock Peng arrived at 4pm to distribute national flags to passers-by, in a counter-gesture to Akmal’s rally.
Restraint, please
Earlier, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli urged restraint in handling alleged flag violations, suggesting that many incidents involving inverted Malaysian flags could simply be honest mistakes rather than deliberate acts of disrespect.
Published: Aug 14, 2025 5:12 PM
Updated: 8:13 PM
An entire row of shops in Kepala Batas closed their doors by 3pm today to avoid being caught up in a “flag inspection” rally mobilised by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.
It is understood that some businesses opted to remain shut for the entire day, while others began closing gradually after midday as tensions mounted over the controversial demonstration.
Malaysiakini observed that police had cordoned off the entire shopping row with tape, preventing public access to the area housing the targeted hardware store, where the recent “upside-down” flag blunder happened.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) director Zaid Malek, who had earlier vowed to “educate” Akmal on obeying the law and protect the hardware store owner Pang Chin Tian (Feng Jin Zhen) from harassment, was present at the scene.
Zaid said he was uncertain whether the businesses had been instructed to close or made the decision independently, but noted that their closures showed they felt threatened by the planned rally.
He seized the opportunity to again criticise Akmal for being obstinate, repeatedly stoking the issue to create division and undermine harmony, accusing him of clearly committing criminal intimidation and disturbing the peace.
DAP members led by National Veteran Club chief Lay Hock Peng arrived at 4pm to distribute national flags to passers-by, in a counter-gesture to Akmal’s rally.
Restraint, please
Earlier, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli urged restraint in handling alleged flag violations, suggesting that many incidents involving inverted Malaysian flags could simply be honest mistakes rather than deliberate acts of disrespect.
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli
He warned young politicians against inflammatory rhetoric, citing Umno’s controversial “keris-wielding” incident as a cautionary tale.
The former economy minister’s reminder comes following a series of recent threats by Akmal over several flag gaffe incidents.
This morning, the police urged all quarters who plan to gather at a hardware store in Penang today, following an uproar over a flag blunder, to cancel their plans.
In a brief statement, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said the counter-rallies risked harming the safety of the local community.
The former economy minister’s reminder comes following a series of recent threats by Akmal over several flag gaffe incidents.
This morning, the police urged all quarters who plan to gather at a hardware store in Penang today, following an uproar over a flag blunder, to cancel their plans.
In a brief statement, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said the counter-rallies risked harming the safety of the local community.
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