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KOTA KINABALU: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry is trying to find out why Malaysians are not hoisting the national flag in the run-up to Independence Day and Malaysia Day.
“We are still studying the reasons behind it. We want to know why people are not flying the national flag.
“This has in fact been happening for the past four to five years, the eagerness to hoist the national flag has slowed down, so that is why we need to study all aspects why this is happening,” Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek told reporters when inspecting the preparation of the Malaysia Day and 50 Years Sabah in Malaysia celebration to be held on September 16 at the Prince Philip Park in Tanjung Aru.
Also present was Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to grace the event.
Shabery pointed out that the lack of interest in hoisting the national flag has nothing to do with politics.
“I have expressed my disappointment in Putrajaya several times. Flags are not hoisted even at the government quarters there, so there must be something wrong there.
“We did ask around, they would normally say that patriotism is in the heart, not reflected through the hoisting of flag.
“But I believe that we need to get the message across that there are things that should be done ritually at least once a year. It is like Hari Raya when we go to the mosque to say our prayers, you can wear anything you want but you show your respect and support by going to the mosque,” Shabery explained.
He said that they would be looking for the best way to instill the spirit of patriotism back among the people, and disclosed that it would be a more specific approach.
Touching on the the move by famous poetry A Samad Said who was recently picked up for hoisting the Sang Saka Malaya flag during the Merdeka celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Shabery said it was an act to “seek attention”.
“There are some attention seekers who are willing to do anything to be noticed. I have said before that they should be sent for checking.
“I do not think that even the opposition parties are supporting their act. They need the attention as they have not appeared in the news for some time. Some people would run naked into a stadium, there are many ways to seek attention, and they chose to do that,” he said.
Shabery added they would leave the matter to the police.
“In some countries, stern action will be taken against those who have humiliated the nation’s symbols … for us here, we will just leave it to the police to take action,” he said.
On another development, Shabery said the ministry had not received any complaints from anyone following the government’s decision to reject the Lamb of God Concert in Malaysia, which was scheduled for September 28 in Kuala Lumpur.
“We have received views that the concert is not suitable to be held here, and we take it as professional views.
“There are guidelines (on concerts that can be held in Malaysia) but in some cases, when we feel that it would create controversies and discomfort among the community, then we rather reject the problem before something else comes up,” he said.