Kepala Batas Shop Owner Arrested Over Upside Down Jalur Gemilang
Viral Video Leads to Arrest in Kepala Batas
Police have arrested a 59-year-old hardware store owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, after a video went viral showing the Jalur Gemilang flying upside down outside his shop.
The incident happened on Sunday, 10 August, when a man was filmed holding a pole with the flag attached upside down. He was reportedly measuring the length of an iron pole and claimed he did not realise the flag had been installed incorrectly.
According to the shopowner, the mistake was rectified immediately upon realising it. However, by then, the video had already been recorded and shared online.
Police Reports Nationwide
Acting Penang police chief Alwi Zainal Abidin said that police received 16 reports nationwide over the incident, with 12 originating from Penang.
Several non-governmental organisations and political parties also lodged reports, including Bertam state assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
Not the First Flag Controversy This Year
This marks the sixth flag-related incident since January and the second case this month involving improper handling of the Jalur Gemilang.
Just recently, SJKC Chung Hua in Port Dickson faced backlash for flying the national flag upside down. Although the school corrected the error, the matter still made national headlines.
In May, Terengganu PAS came under scrutiny for displaying the Jalur Gemilang with an incorrect 11-pointed star and 12 stripes instead of the official 14-pointed star and 14 alternating red and white stripes, which symbolise the 13 states and the Federal Territories.
Public Reaction: Crime or Honest Mistake?
While the incident sparked the usual racial rhetoric online, especially on Twitter, it also raised concerns among Malaysians about displaying the Jalur Gemilang in public.
Some fear that ill-intentioned individuals could sabotage flags to create controversy, accusing others of disrespecting the national symbol.
A Twitter user suggested it’s better to inform the person directly and correct the mistake on the spot, rather than publicising it for social media attention. Others argue that the matter should still be reported to the police, viewing it as a criminal offence under national flag laws.
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