It’s authentic, says former newsman of viral flag photo with Samy Vellu

Khalid (right) and Samy Vellu - Picture taken from the Facebook page of Khairul Azri.

PETALING JAYA: Former journalist Tan Sri Khalid Yunus has confirmed the authenticity of a viral photo of him and the late Tun S. Samy Vellu removing the pancasila symbol from the Indonesian embassy and replacing it with the Malaysian flag.

The photo went viral after the death of the former MIC president and works minister.

On the 1963 incident, Khalid said it happened when he was assigned to cover a demonstration at the Indonesian embassy in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, after Indonesian citizens burnt the Malayan embassy in Medan, Indonesia.

"When we reached there, the demonstrators wanted to enter the area (the building) but the police did not allow it. The situation was very chaotic," he told Sinar Harian.

"The situation (demonstration) had triggered the fury of the people, I didn’t know how I was able to climb up the building of the embassy.

"When I climbed (the building), an Indian man (Samy) climbed with me. At that time, I didn’t know him," he added.

He said the first meeting with Samy was a co-incidence and they met again when they embarked on their respective careers in politics.

Khalid, who is also the former Jempol MP, said they dragged the pancasila symbol, which is the national emblem of Indonesia, and rode a scooter to the residence of then premier Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj's residence in Jalan Datuk Onn, Kuala Lumpur.

Samy, 86, who was the longest serving MIC president, passed away on Sept 15.