KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has urged the authorities to take firm legal action, including prosecution, against anyone found guilty of repeatedly mishandling the installation and display of the Jalur Gemilang.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said such acts tarnish the dignity and sovereignty of the nation, and offenders must be dealt with under existing laws without exception.
“Umno takes the repeated offences involving the installation and flying of the Jalur Gemilang seriously.
“Firm and severe action, including prosecution, must be taken against anyone who commits this offence regardless of the reason, in line with the provisions of the law,” he said after the Umno Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday (Aug 13).
The statement comes amid public concern over several recent incidents in which the national flag was displayed incorrectly, sparking debate over whether the mistakes were due to ignorance or deliberate acts.
On Aug 9, a 59-year-old hardware shop owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, was investigated after the national flag was found hanging upside-down outside his shop.
The shop owner claimed that it was an unintentional mistake made while measuring a flagpole, which he corrected shortly after.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh previously announced plans to stage a protest at the shop, but the gathering did not take place after police were stationed in the area and advised against it.
