KOTA KINABALU: Freedom of speech and fighting for rights should be done respectfully without insulting, provoking or damaging the image of the country, says Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) said a recent posting of Malaysian activists in Australia showing the upside-down Malaysian flag not only tarnished the image of the country, but also showed that these people did not live by the Malaysian culture of a civilised community.
“Insulting the sign of a country’s sovereignty does not portray Sabah and Sarawak people’s politeness and morality,” he said, adding that such actions could potentially affect overseas Malaysians’ reputation in that country.
Mustapha said over the past 20 years, the fight for state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has been deemed a sensitive issue, with people arrested and charged in court.
“But today, honouring the rights of Sabah and Sarawak is being discussed openly. This has also become the Madani government’s main agenda.”
Mustapha added that the past four years of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s tenure as Prime Minister had seen 12 of the MA63 articles resolved, and the special interim grant payment increased from RM26.7mil to RM1.5bil annually, with issues related to the 40% grant under continued discussion.
“People can see for themselves the results from fighting for state rights with diplomacy as opposed to using provocative measures,” he said, adding that while the government respects the right to protest and express views, such actions are not without consequences.
He called on the public to file complaints or reports against the protest with upside-down flags like the one done in Australia, so that action can be taken according to existing laws.
In the protest held outside Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct 24, the group said their act of showing the upside-down Sabah and other flags symbolised their political distress regarding unresolved questions surrounding the formation of Malaysia and the constitutional and political status of Sabah and Sarawak.
