Since when is flying a flag a crime?

YOURSAY 'Is advocating to change the country's flag a crime? The police should show which part of the constitution is being violated.'

Cops on the hunt for 'new flag' advocates

2faceHesham: It's an old Malay flag designed in 1957 by Malay leftists who were also fighting for independence. It's a non-issue. Just a timely reminder to Umno that they are not the only group responsible for Merdeka.

Umno should be grateful and slow down its grabbing and stealing of the rakyat's money.

Octopus: These youngsters carrying out the act were merely trying to tell the other side of history, other than the official one that is played over and over again.

Ipoh2: Is flying a flag a crime? Is the ‘offending' flag banned by law? How did the police know that the ‘offending' flag is to replace the current flag? In any case, is advocating to change the country's flag a crime?

The police should show which part of the constitution is being violated. Which section of the law does the alleged crime fall under?

Kit P: Why does the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) have to parrot whatever the PM says? The attempt to fly an alternative flag on Merdeka eve may be in bad taste, but who says it's an offence? The constitution never says, "You may not fly any other kind of flag".

Onyourtoes: The police say they are taking action against a violation of the "democratic process". Is there a prescribed democratic process written in any law about this act? Have our police become nincompoops?

So, is advocating a new national flag a criminal offence (I am assuming there was such an attempt)? How have other countries changed their national flags and songs then?

I am not talking about showing disrespect to our flag by stepping on it or flying it upside-down. I am talking about a reasoned argument for the change of national flag.

Conmen: "We set up the special teams to investigate three incidents which took place during the celebration and based on pictures published by the media. We ask that the individuals involved come forward to give their statements," said Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin.

Why is this case so important? For all you know, the flags could be prototypes of flags of a new NGO, for example advocating for greater unity between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak. Is that wrong?
Did anyone declare that it is the new national flag of Malaysia? Even if it is, is there any official sanction to this? Why the ruse to demonise the flag bearers?

What crime had these people committed? Did they utter anything that's tantamount to a civil or armed rebellion to overthrow the legitimate government of the day? Are they bearing arms? If not, why the fuss?

The police are better off spending their time and resources to solve the innumerable snatch thefts, burglaries, home break-ins and gangsterism/hooliganism that's plaguing us in our backyards and neighbourhoods.

Truly, our cops have lost a sense of direction and their misguided priorities are indeed perplexing.

Disbeliever: By the way, PDRM, please don't forget you also need to look into two old cases; investigate and identify those who had torn the portrait of the former Penang CM Koh Tsu Koon and stepped on it. This also happened to the current Penang CM Lim Guan Eng.

If you are not taking action on these two cases, then you are biassed and carry out selective investigation and prosecution. So don't blame the rakyat for having no respect for the men in blue. Remember that respect has to be earned.

Anonymous #03913649: What about the group who are responsible for showing their backsides in front of Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga's house - that was also vulgar.

Xmen: I remember some high-ranking leader is alleged to have sold defence documents to a French company, and this is no rumour mongered by some blogger but stated in the investigation papers in the French court.

Funny, I don't recall the police investigating such a serious breach of national security. To them, the single comment by some minister that it was "not a security threat" was good enough reason to close the case. It seems we have more to fear for two ugly looking flags than that.

Ah Hoe: The police should stop making an issue out of youngsters fooling around with a flag of their own making. While the 'mooning' incident has been undesirable and rude, it's nothing more than a childish gesture and hardly worth any police investigation.

Both won't threaten any national security so the police should not waste public money harassing non-BN parties. They should be looking into crimes threatening the public everyday.

Joe Lee: This silly regime is chasing its own shadow. A couple of fellows flying an alternative flag can get all the Umno politicians all apoplectic, whereas rape, murder by C4, pilfering hundreds of millions (remember the Scorpene and Cowgate scandals), or even billions (remember the Port Klang Free Zone scandal, etc), Umno samsengs behaving despicably against Lim Guan Eng or S Ambiga are all okay.

Umno is too rotten, and beyond redemption. It needs to be smashed to smithereens for the sake of the nation.

Anonymous1234@: Yes, Joe Lee hit the nail on the dot. The police are ignoring issues that can bring the country to its knees, but instead reacting to any non-issue raised by their Umno masters. Time to revamp the PDRM after Pakatan takes over the government.

Not Convinced: Didn't then PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad change the tempo of Negara-ku to a marching beat in the 1990s?

Everyone hated it and the original tempo was eventually restored a few years later. Why didn't the police do anything at that time to protect our "democratic process"?