KUALA LUMPUR: Action should be taken against the organisers of an event where an Israeli flag was used, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said action was needed regardless of the explanation given by Pertubuhan Anak Muda Bangkit Malaysia.
"There have been several cases recently, be it Hebrew writing or waving the flag, which have offended the rakyat's feelings and are also against the overall national policy, which transcends political lines.
"Whatever the intention was, it is still wrong.
"I agree that the police (should) take appropriate action," he said when replying to a question by Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 14).
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Sahar wanted to know Malaysia's position on the Peace Plan related to the Palestine-Israel conflict.
On Thursday (Oct 9), Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed that a statement was recorded from a retired 59-year-old civil servant who had a Hebrew-language sticker on his four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The man, who has an interest in foreign language scripts, said he got the sticker from a shop in Selangor 13 years ago.
The man said he had altered the Hebrew phrase "Israel Betainu", meaning "Israel is our home" and adapted it by changing "Israel" to "Malaysia", becoming "Malizia Beiteinu", meaning "Malaysia is our home".
The man also lodged a police report after photos of the vehicle went viral on social media.
The case is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for causing public fear and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network facilities.
On Friday (Oct 10), an Israeli flag was used during a re-enactment of what happened to the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) volunteers, resulting in a backlash against the event organisers.
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Pertubuhan Anak Muda Bangkit Malaysia has since apologised for the incident, wjhich occurred during a solidarity programme for Gaza.
The Israeli flag seen during the 500 Pelayaran Solidariti Kelantan was described as a gimmick during a re-enactment of the GSF volunteers' experience.
Programme director Mohd Khairul Hafiz Hassan said he was ready to cooperate with the authorities in any investigation.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the flying of the Israeli flag here was akin to a traitorous act.
"No matter what excuses are given, I agree that action should be taken as a lesson not to repeat it," he said to thumps of approval from lawmakers in the House.
