COMMENT | In this august month of Merdeka, where for the first time in Malaysia’s history, the independence day parade will be held under a new government, the last thing Malaysians would have expected was for the DAP to rocket down our resplendent Jalur Gemilang.

And that was what the DAP deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat did when he derisively insulted the MCA flag/emblem to be used at the upcoming Balakong by-election describing it as a “durian logo.”

How could Nga Kor Ming be so ignorant or blind when he failed to recognise that the 14-point star in the MCA flag is adopted from the 14-point star in our Jalur Gemilang which all Malaysians hold aloft as a symbol that unites all citizens irrespective of political affiliations?

Is this how the New Malaysia under Pakatan Harapan and DAP ushers in and upholds Malaysia’s 61st Merdeka Day? By belittling a common symbol in both the Jalur Gemilang and the MCA flag/emblem?

MCA is the only party in Malaysia to have based the design of its flag on the national flag, thus harmoniously assimilating it with the national symbol. Our party flag thus expresses MCA’s responsibility and commitment towards this beloved nation.

It is none other than building a peaceful, moderate, stable, progressive and prosperous Malaysia.

One would have assumed and had hoped that Nga Kor Ming, a lawyer by training, would realise that he is no longer in the opposition, is now a part of the federal government, and would improve from using uncouth language.

He might be trying to create a branding for himself by imitating Trump’s usage of unsavoury language to describe people who do not meet his fancy.

But Kor Ming must realise he is a deputy speaker, a role that requires decorum, especially in the noble house. In his own words, the Teluk Intan MP conceded that “the prime minister wanted me as Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker so that I could learn to be neutral.”

But the language he uses betrays an uneducated Neanderthal.

Brief history of the MCA flag/emblem

The MCA party flag was designed in the 1950s by Mok Yuen and Kean Chai Seng and flew for the very first time during the National Day parade held at Bukit Mertajam in 1958, the second year after Malaya’s independence.

The design came about when both Mok and Kean were touched by the Chinese’s active participation in nation-building then.

They took the nine-point star (changed to 14 points after Malaysia was formed) at the top left quarter of the national flag, as part of MCA’s flag, signifying the Chinese community’s loyalty to Malaya/Malaysia. The colour yellow on the star represents Malaysians of Chinese origin.

DAP should be like MCA in entering into the foray of the Balakong by-election as a statesman, arguing on policies and checks and balances to better serve the public, rather than trying to score points by mocking our party flag/emblem which translates into belittling the Jalur Gemilang.

TI LIAN KER is MCA publicity spokesperson and Religious Harmony Bureau chair.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.