MALACCA, 20 Aug 2008: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described as “evil” the action of a blogger who called on his readers to fly the national flag upside down as a sign of protest.
He said flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down was not just mischievous but despicable, what more with Malaysia about to celebrate its 51st independence anniversary on 31 Aug 2008.
“This is uncouth behaviour, showing no respect at all for the national flag. What is there to be angry with the Malaysian flag?” he said after officiating at the Third Scouts International Peace Jamboree today.
It was reported in cyberspace that Kelantanese blogger Sheih (Kickdefella) had on 3 Aug 2008 launched a campaign to fly the Jalur Gemilang upside down as a symbol of the people’s frustrations and as a signal of a nation in distress.
He also wrote in his blog that “it is internationally accepted that raising the flag upside down is a mark of a state in distress. It is never a mark of disrespect.”
“If there are Malaysians who want to take up the idea from the pro-opposition blogger, they would be insulting this important national symbol,” Abdullah said, adding he hoped the police would act on the matter.
Abdullah said the blogger came up with the idea to fly the national flag upside down hoping that others would follow suit, without thinking of the implications.
“He’s simply creating trouble by coming up with dubious stories,” Abdullah said.
Some bloggers and commentators quickly declared their support for the idea but many, including from the opposition, were against it as they felt the national flag deserved the utmost respect.
A blog visitor wrote that in India, flying the national flag upside down as an international symbol of distress was unacceptable, and in fact, an insult to the nation. — Bernama
