Anwar defends Sang Saka Malaya flag-flying duo

Permatang Pauh MP and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today defended the youths who held up the Sang Saka Malaya flag during the Merdeka eve celebrations.

Anwar said there was nothing wrong with them flying the flag as it was the proposed flag when the people were seeking Malaya's independence.

“This episode is there in the country's history, and this was the flag used. I do not think the youth had intended to change the national flagJalur Gemilang but it was merely to highlight that point in the country's history,” he said.

Anwar used the PAS party flag as an example, saying that in the past, the Islamist party flag had the crescent moon and the star.

However, following objections then to its similarity to the national flag, PAS changed it to the full moon.

“I do not think it would be an offence for PAS to put up the old flag as that was one point in the country and party's history,” he said.

“Even Umno's flag is called Sang Saka Bangsa,” he remarked.

The opposition leader was asked to comment on the criticism of several youths holding the red and white flag with the crescent moon and star, and allegations that they had wanted to replace the Jalur Gemilang.

One youth identified in a blog posting asSerigala Selatanclaimed that he and another person named Zairi Shafai were the individuals responsible for flying the Sang Saka Malayaat Dataran Merdeka on Merdeka eve.

"Our motive was far from wanting to replace the Jalur Gemilang to the Sang Saka Malayaas it is the Sang Saka Malaya that was changed to the Jalur Gemilang," he is quoted as saying.

The blogger, who identified himself as an undergraduate, said they had only wanted to fly the flag "alongside Jalur Gemilang" in honour of the Malay leftist struggle for independence, which had been erased from official history.

Villagers find mosque attack inappropriate

Asked to comment on the attack on him at a mosque in Bakar Baka, in Alor Setar, last night, Anwar said the villagers and imam of the mosque found it unwarranted.

“It was highly inappropriate for the Perkasa youth to resort to it. We know they are from Perkasa as they were wearing the shirts.

“Even the mosque imam and the villagers find their behaviour of throwing a shoe into the mosque as inappropriate. But we took it in our stride,” Anwar said.

Yesterday, it was reported that several Perkasa members had acted unruly outside the mosque during the maghrib prayers, saying they would not allow Anwar to give a tazkirah (short religious talk) but would allow PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to do so.