Tian Chua Ejected from KLCC Over Palestine Flags, Mall Denies Political Motive
Tian Chua Ejected From Suria KLCC Over Wooden Stick, Mall Denies Political Motive
Former Batu MP and veteran activist Tian Chua was asked to leave Suria KLCC alongside other Palestine solidarity supporters after carrying a Palestinian flag mounted on a wooden stick — sparking debate over freedom of expression and mall security protocols.
Incident Follows Solidarity Rally in KL
According to video footage that went viral on social media, Tian Chua and several activists were seen chanting “Free Palestine” slogans while waving Palestinian flags outside Suria KLCC. The group had just finished attending a peaceful rally in support of Palestine before stopping by the mall.
They were approached by mall security and asked to leave the premises.
KLCC Management: Not Politically Motivated
Suria KLCC quickly issued a statement clarifying the situation, stating that the group was stopped not due to their political expressions, but because of a long wooden stick attached to one of the flags — which was deemed a potential security threat.
“This action is in line with our security procedures that prohibit items with potential security risks or that may disturb the comfort of visitors,” the statement read.
KLCC emphasized that their security policies are standard and apply to all visitors, regardless of background or cause.
Tian Chua: It Was About Freedom, Not Protest
In a response to The Rakyat Post (TRP), Tian Chua explained that the group was not staging a protest inside the mall but simply walking through it to eat or access public transportation.
He claimed that security guards initially attempted to stop the entire group, even asking them to remove their keffiyehs (traditional Palestinian scarves), discard placards, and confiscate Palestinian flags.
Tian Chua said he refused to leave his wooden stick behind and voluntarily chose not to enter, while others from the group continued inside the mall.
He likened the situation to previous Bersih rallies, where protestors entered malls while still wearing yellow shirts — and were not stopped.
“Symbols of Palestine are not banned in Malaysia,” he said, adding that mall authorities have no right to police attire or peaceful symbols worn by Malaysians in a public space.
Public Reaction Split
The incident has divided public opinion. Some users criticised the mall’s actions, questioning whether simply carrying a Palestinian flag — especially in a country where public support for Palestine is strong — should result in ejection.
Others supported the mall, arguing that the issue wasn’t about the Palestinian flag, but about security concerns over the wooden pole.
Some netizens pointed out that the group had initially entered peacefully and only started raising their voices when Tian Chua was treated harshly.
Critics Call for Balance Between Security and Freedom
Critics argue that while security rules are important, there must be room for nuance, especially when dealing with peaceful expression in a public commercial space.
As Malaysia continues to be vocal in its support for Palestine, questions remain about how far public sentiment can be expressed in private-owned spaces like malls.
Source : Tiktok
@protestguy Selepas protes 'Trump Dont Come' diadakan semalam (6 September 2025), beberapa aktivis Palestin telah masuk ke dalam Suria KLCC untuk solat, makan dan menggunakan LRT. Namun adalah amat mendukacitakan apabila pihak @suriaklccmall telah menghalang masuk serta menghalau aktivis yang membawa bendera Palestin, serta plakad-plakad bermesej Pro Palestin dan anti Zionis, anti Israel. Salah seorang aktivis tersebut ialah YB Tian Chua. Lihatlah bagaimana pihak @suriaklccmall bertindak mengasari beliau yang merupakan warga emas berumur 62 tahun, sedangkan perkara seperti ini boleh dibawa berbincang secara elok. Sekiranya alasannya ialah 'kayu' tidak dibenarkan, kenapa aktivis lain juga telah dihalau walaupun mereka hanya membawa plakad? Hal ini membawa persoalan, adakah @suriaklccmall sebuah kompleks membeli belah betul-betul di bawah Menara Berkembar KLCC, bangunan kebanggaan Malaysia, yang mana merupakan salah sebuah negara yang lantang memperjuangkan hak Palestin, sebenarnya berpendirian Pro Zionis? Kami menuntut @suriaklccmall untuk memohon maaf serta menyatakan pendirian mereka terhadap isu Palestin sebelum gerakan boikot kepada mereka dijalankan! Kredit video: @wfatinsuryanie
♬ original sound - Malaysian_Protest_4_Palestine - Malaysian Protest 4 Palestine
