JOHOR BARU: The police have recorded statements from three individuals in their investigation into the case of Chinese flags being waved during a recent international cultural festival parade here.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the three witnessed the event around Taman Sentosa here on Oct 20, but the waving of the flags had occurred inside a shopping mall at the location.
“The police are waiting to record the statement of the event organiser when he returns from Bangkok,” he told reporters during a Deepavali gathering at the Johor police headquarters here yesterday.
Comm Kumar said the report was lodged by the police on Oct 28 after coming across a viral video on social media, which shows Chinese flags being waved inside the premises.
“The event had received approval from MBJB (Johor Baru City Council),” he said, adding that police are investigating the case.
Police have said the parade was part of an international cultural festival organised by a cultural association in Sentosa, with participants coming from over 10 countries.
The Johor incident followed the controversy of the Guan Gong Cultural Festival, also organised by a cultural association, in Teluk Intan, Perak, on Oct 24.
At the international event to honour Guan Gong, or the god of war, there was also the waving of their nation’s flags by the Chinese participants.
The association said it had obtained a police permit for the event and that the Jalur Gemilang and Perak flags were also carried to lead the parade.
The issue came under scrutiny after Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria expressed outrage at Chinese flags being raised at the festival.
The Perak police have submitted their investigation paper on the incident to Bukit Aman for further action.
