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Ayer Kuning voters, please get rid of the racial and religious bigots who are threatening national unity and harmony
https://youtu.be/8xY9FUgikfQ?si=P_kqp7B7Tb2EOGpg (Will Ministry of Education High Ranking Officers be arrested for Flag blunder like Sin Chew Editors?)
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KUALA LUMPUR, April 25, 2025: Tomorrow registered voters will cast their ballots to elect their Ayer Kuning assemblyman in Perak.
The three-corner contest comprises the racial and religious bigoted Umno (read as Dr Akmal Saleh), the Taliban-like PAS which need no introduction and the “mosquito political party” PSM (Parti Sosialis Malaysia).
The by-election is an opportunity for multiracial Malaysians who love national unity and harmony to send a clear message to Umno and PAS that there is no room for religious extremists and racists in multiracial Malaysia.
Have multiracial Malaysians not had enough of the insults hurled at them by the bigots in Umno and PAS for more than six decades since Merdeka (Independence) 1957?
PAS and Umno (Alliance then Barisan Nasional) have been spewing racial and religious bigotry for political mileage … and they are still at it!!!
It is time for voters to dump Umno and PAS for a third choice just to teach them a lesson in politics and inclusive governance … not forgetting fair justice and policing.
Multiracial Malaysians need not look back so far to see how the racial and religious bigots threaten national unity and harmony … the current Jalur Gemilang (national flag) controversy/gaffy/snafu.
The Education Ministry (also read as the federal government) also committed the same mistake that is deemed as insulting the Jalur Gemilang.
Are the police investigating? Has anyone been arrested and questioned?
The racial and religious bigots who demanded the closure of Sin Chew are now extremely silent. Why?
They have lost their tongues to karma. When one demands and act with ulterior motives/agenda, they tend to bite back!
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a malaysiakini article that is being shared in social media that is so self-explanatory on the Jalur Gemilang controversy:
*By ANDREW SIA*
‘Not all flag mistakes are equal’ — Malaysiakini
Karma moves fast sometimes. While many condemned Sin Chew Daily for its error over our flag, now the Education Ministry has done a similar blooper.
Its SPM analysis report showed a Jalur Gemilang with two stars and eight stripes instead of 14.
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim questioned, “Whose head is going to roll over this? I’m sure certain groups will claim that an apology isn’t enough.”
Former Selangor state executive councillor Teng Chang Khim said those who protested at Sin Chew’s office and called for its closure should now do the same thing at the Education Ministry.
For a clue to what may happen in this latest flag fiasco, let’s look at several past incidents of flag mistakes.
In 2022, our national flag was raised upside down during the National Day Parade rehearsal at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. The mistake was made by none other than Royal Malaysian Navy personnel.
But unlike the huge outcry over the recent flag error by Sin Chew Daily, I don’t recall any sailors being publicly vilified for this.
Of course not, because it was an accidental blooper; why take an all-too-human misstep to extremes?
Yet, for Sin Chew, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh claimed the newspaper had “menghina kedaulatan negara” (insulted national sovereignty) and that saying sorry was not good enough.
*Some mistakes are more equal*
In 2020, a factory owner in Senai, Johor, was remanded for three days for another flag gaffe.
The owner had ordered his Indonesian worker to replace a worn-out Jalur Gemilang but didn’t monitor the job, resulting in the flag being flown upside down.
However, the same mistake was treated differently when government premises were involved.
In August 2020, our flag was hung upside down at a school in Klang. However, police said it was “not intentional” even though it had generated online controversy.
This also happened at a school in Pahang in 2019. Then-inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador said it was an “honest mistake” by a migrant worker.
In the recent controversy, Sin Chew had its executive editor-in-chief and deputy chief sub-editor suspended.
But no headmasters or supervisors in the schools above were punished for their flag lapses. Should there have been more accountability?
Even more glaring, the flag was flown upside down at the Seremban district police headquarters in 2016. Seremban police chief Said Ibrahim said at the time that it was a “technical error” which had been quickly resolved.
So it’s clear that some flag blunders can be excused as “not intentional”, “honest mistakes”, or “technical errors”, while others receive the full wrath of condemnation.
Does it seem that some flag errors are “more equal” than others?
*Done on purpose?*
Before Sin Chew, another Chinese-based organisation, the Malaysian Basketball Association (Maba) was also demonised in 2019 for displaying a faulty flag with a five-pointed star on an electronic board during an event.
The mistake was quickly realised and taken down. The entire Maba committee bowed down humbly at a press conference to apologise. Even its president stepped down, pending the outcome of a police inquiry.
But all of that wasn’t good enough. The then-education minister Maszlee Malik said people who “claim to be Malaysian citizens” but are ignorant about the Jalur Gemilang “cannot be forgiven” for their “betrayal”.
Perlis Mufti Asri Zainul Abidin said the “insult of the flag” by “those who were given citizenship” (referring to non-Malays) was “sangat melampau” (very extreme).
In other words, “Sorry, no cure.”
In the case of Sin Chew, similar racial rhetoric has emerged. Some people claimed the blunder was “deliberate” because the newspaper was “loyal to foreign powers”, i.e. China, and had “turned its back on Malaysia”.
As I explained before, as a Malaysian journalist for 31 years, I can testify that the local media are acutely aware of certain “sensitive” issues.
Nobody would dream of purposely causing an offence, as publishing licences can be instantly withdrawn.
But even then, lapses can happen in the high-pressure environment of the newsroom, as it did at The Star when I was working there.
As academic-activist Kua Kia Soong said: “It takes a special kind of arrogance - or perhaps ignorance - to demand blood over a simple proofreading error.
“Yet, instead of accepting Sin Chew’s sincere apology, some have chosen to weaponise this mistake, as if it were an act of treason rather than an honest oversight.”
*Selective outrage?*
Ahmad Murad Merican, of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), condemned Sin Chew, saying, “Where is your loyalty to the country? Never mind the apology, this is subversive and treasonous.
“This newspaper must be banned. Is this the image of Chinese journalism in Malaysia?” he added.
Malay-rights activists also protested outside Sin Chew’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
“We reject the apology. ‘Tiada maaf bagimu!’ (No forgiveness for you!),” said Perkasa Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin and eight others.
While the sailors, schools, and police station were excused for their flag mistakes, no such leeway was given to a Johor factory owner, Maba, or Sin Chew.
Is that a case of double standards?
Zaid, the former Umno law minister put it bluntly, “The mistake by Sin Chew editors would not have attracted such a drastic reaction ... if they were Malays.
“Prof Tajuddin (Rasdi) said this symbolises a failed nation ... More appropriate is the word racist,” he added.
*Forgiveness is noble*
In contrast, academic Tajuddin asked what kind of family or country fails to understand that “to err is human, and to forgive, divine?”
“I wonder what religion teaches its adherents the principle of ‘Sorry, no cure’?” he wrote.
“Even Prophet Muhammad forgave the people who caused him immense hardship.”
Sadly, in calling for reconciliation, Umno Veterans’ Club and Perkasa challenged Tajuddin to renounce his citizenship.
Of course, it’s important to get the flag right. But let’s not forget its deeper meaning.
“The flag represents the dignity of our communities … slapping someone simply for eating in public during Ramadan dishonours the flag,” wrote Tajuddin in a separate op-ed.
He added, “Corruption is like putting filth and waste on the flag. So is viewing corruption as a form of ‘donation’.”
Taking a cue from that, I posted on Facebook that what was worse than the Sin Chew flag blunder were fake “patriots” waving “perfect” flags while destroying the country through corruption.
And I added in the famous quote, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” To illustrate my point, I chose two old photos of jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak waving flags.
But wow, I was attacked by an online mob with foul and abusive words.
In reply, I “congratulated” them for their budaya mulia of adab dan sopan santun (noble culture of civility and politeness).
And I quoted the Malay proverb, “Kuman di seberang lautan nampak, gajah di pelupuk mata tak nampak.”
(You see the germ across the sea, but not the elephant in your eye).
Tajuddin also wrote that the flag means much more than just its image.
“The flag represents… our dignity, our justice, and our mutual respect.
“To fail in upholding these three pillars of nationhood is to tear the flag to pieces.”
Could a Bawani-PSM upset win teach antagonisers some humility?
Tajuddin Rasdi
Voters in Ayer Kuning must remind those who perpetuate race and religious politics that mutual respect is what is precious in Malaysia.
In the upcoming Ayer Kuning by-election, non-Malay voters—representing a massive 44% of the electorate—will have the opportunity to remind our politicians and their parties what Malaysia ought to stand for.
Both Umno’s Dr Akmal Saleh and PAS have been playing race and religious politics to the hilt recently, causing many non-Malays sleepless nights.
President Donald Trump may be able to impose and lift tariffs within a day, but the propagation of race and religious narratives is bound to have consequences that last generations.
Many Malaysians have called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his unity government to step in and address these issues decisively.
However, the truth is that they face significant challenges due to the influence of social media where a narrow and inflexible perspective of Islam is being pushed out and amplified.
This narrative has been worsened by comments emanating from preachers like Firdaus Wong, Zamri Vinod, Azhar Idrus, and even the Perlis mufti.
Since 2017, PAS has adopted Umno’s unwanted narratives surrounding communism, Christianity and “Cina Kafir” (Chinese unbelievers).
When I was with PAS in the 30 years prior to that, such tactics were deemed demeaning, distasteful, and even sinful. That was a time when intellectuals and professionals championed the overarching narrative of “Islam for all”.
Now, PAS is led by the pool of ignorant and one-track-minded asatizah that swept 44 parliamentary seats in GE15 on the back of ignorant Undi18 voters and the disillusioned Malay middle and upper middle classes who now have more than enough money to “pay” their way to heaven by investing in Muslim-only charities and preaching Islamic politics.
However, 44% of the electorate at the upcoming Ayer Kuning by-election can send a clear message that this “Islam-only” narrative is not what our royals and forefathers wanted for this country when it was first conceived, and certainly not what our partners in Sabah and Sarawak want now.
Then there is the kind of politics that uses threats, abusive language and the “cancel” culture, particularly in the form of boycotts, instead of knowledge, diplomacy and patience.
Politicians like Akmal appear to be winning the popularity contest especially rural Malays and ignorant Malay graduates and academics. Akmal has to date ignored the advice of party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the prime minister, and even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
His latest response to Zahid’s kind suggestion—“Jangan bergaduh dengan orang” (Let’s not argue with others)—was to arrogantly warn and threaten Malaysians not to interfere in matters involving Islam or the Malays.
Akmal has not changed and never will. His favourite target is DAP, the Chinese and, of course, Nyonya Tua.
How will he learn his lesson? Only through votes. I hope non-Malays voters will teach him a real lesson in Melaka, but they can begin in Ayer Kuning.
Tanjung Piai, where MCA scored an upset win over then prime minister and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2019 after Zakir Naik was allowed to denigrate the Chinese people, serves as a timely reminder.
In Perak, with DAP representatives seemingly secure in their seats, there is no danger of a Perikatan Nasional takeover of the state.
That means the time is ripe to allow young politician KS Bawani to be voted in as the constituency’s Yang Berhormat.
I am sure she will also be accepted by the unity government coalition and her future constituency will be well taken care of. Bawani has been doing plenty of social work on the ground and presents the best of what we want for this country.
We have seen how the Hindu temple issue has flared up recently, with two or three other potential flashpoints also appearing. Again, two detestable preachers are at the centre of the controversy.
However, social influencers, backed by PN, are also raising the stakes. There seems to be no end to the inflammatory tactics practised on Malaysians.
We must all play our part to remind those responsible for such actions that deep respect for every community is a cornerstone of Malaysia’s identity, one that must be upheld at every turn—first, second, and always.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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