KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has hit out at attempts by certain parties to pressure the Attorney General’s Chambers into prosecuting a Penang shop owner who mistakenly displayed the national flag incorrectly.
Party secretary-general Anthony Loke said on Tuesday (Aug 12) that such actions amounted to political interference and bullying, particularly after threats to stage a protest outside the shop if no charges were filed.
ALSO READ: Shopkeeper to be charged soon over upside-down flag
He said the Attorney General should be allowed to decide freely without pressure.
Loke added that the party would respond peacefully by sponsoring a giant Jalur Gemilang to be displayed at the shop this evening.
DAP members will also distribute 831 national flags to promote unity ahead of Merdeka Day, he said.
It was reported that the 59-year-old shopkeeper is expected to be charged soon.
He was earlier arrested and investigated after a video of the flag being flown upside-down went viral and numerous police reports were lodged.
In a TikTok video, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh called for a protest outside the shop, urging potential participants to bring their own Jalur Gemilang and to “teach” the shopkeeper how to fly the national flag properly.
ALSO READ: Keep politics off the flagpole, says Dr Wee in slamming Umno Youth chief's remarks on flag incident
Previously, PKR central leadership council member Lee Chean Chung also commented on the issue saying that it was fast spiralling out of control.
He urged both Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Loke to find common grown and calm public sentiment.
"There is still room to cool things down. Both sides should quickly find a way to do so. Quickly!", Lee said in Facebook on Sunday (Aug 10).
The protest planned for Monday (Aug 11) did not materialise as the shop remained closed and no protesters turned up.
