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Flag gaffe: Akmal still on the hook for threatening public order, questions why singled out
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has failed to set aside charges for threatening public order in connection with a flag gaffe in Penang last year.
Sinar Harian reported that prosecutors relayed their decision today, during case management, to reject a request to drop the charges.
It also reported...
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has failed to set aside charges for threatening public order in connection with a flag gaffe in Penang last year.
Sinar Harian reported that prosecutors relayed their decision today, during case management, to reject a request to drop the charges.
It also reported that Akmal's lawyers will file a second appeal to the attorney-general.
The charge is over an Aug 11 Facebook video, where Akmal (above) threatened to hold a protest if a hardware shop owner in Penang who was filmed with an upside-down Jalur Gemilang was not prosecuted.
The Umno Youth chief was subsequently charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which provides for a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
To date, no trial date has been set.
In a Facebook post today, Akmal said he would comply with the legal process, but questioned why only he was charged.
"The individual who hoisted the Malaysian flag upside down has not been charged to this day," he said.
The purported selective prosecution is one argument that Akmal's lawyers have made in a judicial review, which also seeks to upend the charges against the Umno Youth chief.
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That Hardware Shop Owner as a patriotic citizen had displaye the national flag but the wrong way up. It is for the State authorities to admonish,charge or fine him. There was no need for Akmal to lead an entourage from Melaka and other States to demonstate before the Hardware Shop or to teach the Ah Pek to fly the flag correctly. The owner had explained that he was merely in the process of adjusting the flag when someone took a snapshot of an upside down flag. Was not the flag correctly hoisted on the day Akmal visited the shoplot. His action was aggressive and could have easily caused an ugly situation across the country. Is that what he wanted. Why did he not do the same when a East Coast State flew a flag without the Stars and Moon . So Akmal is racially selective about his actions. The Court and Authorities must charge him for his action.
The person who accidentally raised the flag upside down did not threaten public order. Throw Akmal in jail.
Akmal threatened the loving peace in this country. Only an exemplary sentence would serve justice for peace and harmony in this country. The old man never forget to show loyalty and love to the country. He made a mistake unknowingly but was quick to correct it.
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