KUALA LUMPUR: Upset with the recent "upside down flags", actor Sharnaaz Ahmad has called on Malaysians, and the Government, to disseminate basic information of the national flag, Jalur Gemilang, on social media.
The 33-year-old Gila Baby and Juvana star has always supported the annual Kibarkan Jalur Gemilang campaign organised by the Government in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day throughout August and September.
He said that it was high time for Malaysians and expatriate workers to understand the basic symbolism of the flag's design and colours, and supported the efforts of non-governmental organisation National Agenda Secretariat to dissemiate information on Jalur Gemilang via its Facebook page.
Sharnaaz said on Instagram yesterday: “The flag of a country is our pride and honour. It symbolises the sacrifices of our forefathers who worked hard to build this nation. So we must always show it our utmost respect and that means we should not fly it upside down. Yes, we have freedom of speech, but freedom of speech comes with responsibility, so we must never insult the national flag, we must know what it means, insulting it means dishonouring our forefathers and their struggles to give us a good life. I hope all Malaysians and the Government can repost this wonderful explanation of each colour, stripe and symbol of the national flag.”
His post was accompanied by a photo of the national flag with explanations, from the non-governmental organisation’s Facebook page.
Netizens strongly agreed with Sharnaaz. They lamented that many young Malaysians did not know the meaning behind the colours and design of Jalur Gemilang.
One of them, KS, said: “So many kurang ajar people these days. They have no business to fly the flag upside down. Well said Sharnaaz.”
Hashim said: “Those people who deface the national flag or fly it upside down are not fit to be called Malaysians.”
Shamsinar said: “People who fly the flag upside down do not have a sense of pride for the nation. They deserve to face the full force of the law.”
Recently, several instances of Jalur Gemilang flown upside down appeared on social media.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador said that police investigations found that they were not intentional acts by a specific group of people.
Abdul Hamid said that culprits were foreign workers who did not understand basic flag etiquette.
