Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi today said that issuing an apology over disparaging remarks on the national anthem would not absolve DAP Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen.

Puad (below) said that says that DAP leaders have made it a habit of making "insensitive" remarks and then retracting upon public anger.

"The apology is only to calm the situation, and not because they are sincere or out of a sense of patriotism.

"This has happened numerous times so to me, an apology by a DAP leader has no value," he told the BN Backbenchers’ Council’s official news portal today.

Chong, who is also DAP national vice chairperson, yesterday on Facebook said Facebook said that the playing of the Negaraku prior to a feature film in cinemas is "a disgrace and ridiculous".

He likened the practice of that in Communist China in the era of Mao Tze Tung, where people were forced to make overt displays of patriotism.

He retracted the posting and apologised after receiving negative comments by netizens who said his remarks were an "embarrassment".

Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (right) urged the DAP to take disciplinary action against Chong over his gaffe.

He said it is only fitting as DAP had before this suspended former state assemblyperson M Manoharan for suggesting that the national flag be changed.

"There should not be double standard for this case, if DAP disagree with his remarks.

"We urge DAP to view this case seriously and stop the continuance insult towards our country," he said in a statement.

This was echoed by Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

However, he stopped short of saying that the authorities should take action against the Kuching MP.

"As a politician, the most severe punishment is rejection and criticism from the people, and he is now a victim of his own doing," the minister told Bernama .