Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has urged young politicians to avoid inflammatory rhetoric, warning that such behaviour could lead to political downfall.
The former economy minister’s comments come after a series of threats from Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh over recent incidents involving the Malaysian flag. Rafizi suggested that many cases of inverted flags could be honest mistakes rather than deliberate acts of disrespect.
“The flag isn’t wrong; it’s the humans who are excessive,” he said in a video posted on X. “When we’re young, we might make a name with socks, flags, shoes, slippers and hats. But when we’re older, people will laugh at us as the politicians of socks, flags, shoes, slippers and hats.”
Rafizi cited Umno’s past as a cautionary example, recalling the controversy sparked when then Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein brandished a keris during the party’s 2005 youth assembly. The act became a symbol remembered by voters and, he said, contributed to the party’s loss of support, particularly among the Chinese community.
The incident was seen as a turning point in shifting Chinese voters from Barisan Nasional (BN) to the then-opposition Pakatan Harapan. Following BN’s poor performance in the 2008 general election — winning only 140 federal seats and losing many urban, Chinese-majority areas — Hishammuddin apologised, acknowledging that his action may have harmed the party.
Rafizi said that proper investigations should determine whether flag violations were intentional before making them public issues. He warned that aggressive reactions could discourage citizens, particularly non-Malays, from displaying the flag at all.
“If I were a citizen, especially a non-Malay, and had made the effort to put up a flag to express love for the country, if I’m always targeted by Umno Youth, next time I’d rather not put up any flag at all,” he said, in an apparent jab at Akmal.
Meanwhile, police today called on all parties to cancel plans to gather at a hardware store in Penang after a dispute over an inverted flag. Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said counter-rallies could jeopardise public safety.
DAP’s Penang branch and lawyer Zaid Malek have stated that they will be present at the store to counter Akmal and his supporters, who have been pressuring the store owner over the incident. DAP plans to hand Akmal flags “to counter hate with unity,” while Zaid intends to urge him to seek peace.
Akmal had initially planned to “teach” the store owner how to display the flag correctly, but cancelled the visit after DAP put up a giant flag at the premises.
The dispute began on Saturday after a 20-second video went viral showing hardware store owner Feng Jin Zhen holding the Jalur Gemilang upside down while measuring an iron pole. Feng said he did not realise the flag’s position and corrected it immediately.
Police arrested Feng on Sunday to assist in the investigation, which has been referred to prosecutors. Authorities are also probing those who recorded and shared the video.