Since August 3rd, some Malaysian blogs have featured the national flag (or “Jalur Gemilang“) posted upside-down as a sign of a nation in distress. The call was said to be have been made by blogger Sheih aka ‘kickdefella‘ from the country’s east coast, a call which many bloggers have taken to. Some bloggers have deigned to show disrespect to the flag, although they have posted the ruling party’s flag upside down on their blog.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was reported to have expressed regret over this movement in the blogosphere, calling it “evil”. He was reported to have said that flying the national flag upside down was not unlawful or illegal, but still a despicable one, especially in the run up of Malaysia’s 51st independence celebrations. It was reported that Abdullah hoped that the police would take some action into the matter.
In his most recent posting, blogger Sheih expressed his indignance that the less fortunate and hard-core poor are not helped at all by the politicians, notwithstanding promises made prior to the March 2008 elections. He stated that the politicians were too busy politicking and not directing their minds towards helping the poor. As an example, he cited the new ruling of self-service petrol kiosks, which would cause unemployment and hardship, especially in poorer states.
Both ruling and opposition parties have expressed regret, and some dismay, that Malaysians would post images of the national flag upside-down. In the blogosphere, the jury is still out.
22 Aug 08: As a post script, newspaper reports have stated that the blogger who instigated instigating the upside-down flag flying is under police probe . The news reports did not indicate if Sheih is indeed the blogger in question.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar, was reported to have said that police report was lodged, and the police are now investigating the action under the Sedition Act 1948. Ismail declined to name the complainant and did not indicate if only the blogger in question will be subject to the investigation, or if others who did the same, will be investigated.
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An ugly and dispicable act. Should be rejected by all malaysians.
posted on August 21st, 2008 at 5:12 am - #11052What, posting a small JPG of an upside down flag or asking for police to arrest him on account of a picture? Particularly when there are highb profile murder cases and missing children still left unsolved?
posted on August 21st, 2008 at 1:01 pm - #11058Why can’t the Malaysian PM just leave bloggers alone? In the wake of the Permatang Pauh - mother of all by-elections in Northern Malaysia - where Anwar Ibrahim is contesting against the PM’s candidate - the PM’s remark is simply to discredit bloggers.
posted on August 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm - #11066[...] blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (or RPK) for sedition, while there are ongoing investigations against blogger Sheih, also for sedition. Blogger Bakaq was taken in recently for questioning, also for alleged [...]
posted on August 27th, 2008 at 8:32 am - #11117It is hard to fathom the infatuation a government can have with a small as medium as blogs.
posted on August 27th, 2008 at 8:05 pm - #11123[...] 2.Global Voices Advocacy » Malaysian blogs fly flag upside down [...]
posted on August 29th, 2008 at 2:37 pm - #11138[...] For more, click here. [...]
posted on September 12th, 2008 at 5:32 pm - #11808[...] at the loss of jobs due to a new ruling regarding petrol kiosks, requesting other bloggers to post the Malaysian flag upside down as a sign of distress. He too is now being investigated for sedition. Of course, blogger and news [...]
posted on September 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm - #11996[...] Free speech advocacy group Global Voices Online has the context of the issue here: [...]
posted on September 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm - #12193[...] arrest does not come as a surprise, considering the uproar he created when he suggested bloggers post their flags upside down on their blog sites. On 22 August 2008, it was reported that he was under police probe. It has been reported that Syed [...]
posted on September 17th, 2008 at 6:31 pm - #12196Remember the malaysian national anthem case not long time ago?. What happen then? Don’t tell me that it is a different thing. Compare the action taken in both cases.
posted on September 17th, 2008 at 6:53 pm - #12208