LFL urges public to protect shop owner from Akmal, Wee slams threat

Summary

• Lawyer Zaid Malek condemns the government’s inaction on Umno Youth Chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s intimidation of the store owner who hoisted the Jalur Gemilang upside down.

• He vows to peacefully stand against Akmal on Thursday and urges others to join him.

• MCA president Wee Ka Siong criticises Akmal for issuing ultimatums to prosecutors, urging enforcement to follow the law, not threats.

Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek wants the public to join him at the Penang hardware store embroiled in a flag blunder controversy on Thursday to make a stand against Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s planned protest that day.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong also rapped Akmal for turning a mishap, in which the Malaysian flag was displayed upside down, into a political stunt.

Akmal yesterday said that if charges against the shop owner are not filed by Wednesday, he would organise a rally outside the shop in Kepala Batas to “educate” the businessperson on how to properly put up the Jalur Gemilang.

In a statement today, Zaid said it is ridiculous that the government and police are not putting a stop to the Umno Youth chief’s harassment and bullying.

“If the government will not step in, I will take the necessary action to defuse the situation and protect the store owner from illegal bullying and intimidation.

“I will be there at the store in Penang on Thursday to meet with Akmal and educate him that his actions are wrongful, and advise him to comply with the nation’s laws, including by not carrying out acts of intimidation or criminal trespass,” he said.

He added that through peaceful means, he would also advise Akmal against fanning hatred and harassing members of the public through threats of vigilantism or mob tyranny.

The lawyer said he was willing to stand against the politician alone, but called on others to join him.

“I call upon all right-thinking Malaysians who are tired of this type of harassment and bullying from politicians like Akmal to make this stand with me, peacefully and in the spirit of Malaysian unity.

“It is time to draw a line in the sand against bigotry, prejudice, bullying, and race-baiting. Let us do what this government will not, and stand firmly against the bullying of common folk by politicians with privilege and power,” Zaid said.

The incident

The incident caught public attention on Saturday after a viral 20-second video showed the hardware store owner carrying the flag upside down on a pole, while another man recorded him.

The owner, Feng Jin Zhen, later explained that he was measuring the length of an iron pole while hanging the national flag and did not notice that the flag was upside down. He said he immediately corrected his mistake upon noticing.

Akmal, who has been using race-baiting language to condemn the incident, had originally planned to hold his “lecture” outside the store on Monday, with Umno Youth organising a rally in support.

However, both plans were put on hold after the shop owner was arrested.

Akmal renewed his plans yesterday in an attempt to pressure prosecutors to act.

Commenting on this, MCA’s Wee said enforcement must follow the rule of law, and not political ultimatums or personal threats.

“We do not run this country on arbitrary deadlines set by politicians,” he said.

The Ayer Hitam MP added that leaders should inspire patriotism through education, example, and lawful action, and not by becoming self-appointed enforcers.

He said politicising the flag blunder only divides Malaysians, and may even scare some from hanging up the Jalur Gemilang in conjunction with National Day celebrations.

“Let the authorities do their job, and let us keep politics out of the flagpole,” Wee added.

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