“DOUBLE standards”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, happen when two groups or people are judged by different sets of rules for the exact same situation. One group gets more freedom, while the other faces a stricter penalty or harder test.
For instance, people excuse bad behaviour or mistakes from a friend but get very angry if a stranger makes the same mistake.
Scroll on social media lately and the person accused of such hypocrisy is more likely than not firebrand UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
Most Malaysians will recall fiery speeches the Merlimau state assemblyman gave in relation to a perceived show of disrespect by an elderly hardware store owner in Penang for hoisting an upside down Jalur Gemilang during last year’s Merdeka month.
There were threats of mob-style protests alongside plenty of foaming-at-the-mouth quotes from the 38-year-old medic about the supposed lack of patriotism from the Chinese community.
Fast forward to this year’s Merdeka month and the trending news is that of a Jalur Gemilang missing the crescent moon and star fluttering at Dataran Batu Buruk, Terengganu.
Official explanation proffered by the PAS-ruled state’s Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was that strong winds blowing in from the seafront had caused those stitched-on flag symbols to become detached.
The words “unintentional” and “further investigations” were bandied about while the offending flag was quickly replaced.
Many netizens had been patiently waiting for the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University alumni’s response given the vitriol in which he pursued the Penang incident previously.
Rival politicians and keyboard warriors delighted in reminding Akmal of his many foaming-at-the-mouth pronouncements during the Penang flag incident last year when he even vowed to “teach the Ah Pek how to properly fly the flag”.
Eventually, the self-proclaimed race and religion defender surfaced with a somewhat belated and timid response to the Terengganu episode via a social media clip demanding proof of the supposed “technical failure” reasoning by the Terengganu MB which is tantamount to a slap on the wrist reprimand.
Declaring that the flag embodies the nation’s dignity, the Melaka Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security EXCO merely asked that evidence be presented to back up the claims and also to prevent a recurrence.
No aggressive jabbing of fingers. No name-calling. No accusations of unpatriotic behaviour. In fact, many politically-astute citizens noted the absence of melodramatics on this occasion.
The obvious difference in tone and delivery of his reprimand was also noted by many confused Malaysians. Why so mild-mannered this time around?
“When the Chinese old man fixed the flag wrongly, he made lots of noise and protest. He even went to his house to teach him how to hang the flag,” recounted one netizen. “What happened now, no noise because of his own kind?”
Another commenter mocked Akmal for the fact that “his teeth didn’t bite at all” this time around.
The obvious hypocrisy and double standards were called out by numerous citizens who thought his actions (or lack thereof) spoke louder than words.
It was pertinently pointed out that this only becomes a controversial and fiery 3R (race, religion and royalty) issue if it happens in a DAP-controlled constituency.
Such was the visible difference in response which prompted a few to sarcastically query if the medical doctor was feeling quite himself (especially in the aftermath of the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional having forged an alliance on the basis of ummah unity).
There’s little point in analysing the difference. Everyone knows the vitriol and hate-speech are reserved for DAP and by extension, the Chinese community, who continue to be the bogeyman for Akmal to raise whenever some fear-mongering is required.
This rightist BN politician will have his share of ardent followers judging from the many enthusiastic and supportive comments appended to the clip.
But for now, it is quite refreshing that enough Malaysians have seen fit to highlight the glaring double standards in Akmal’s responses to the latest flag issue. – Aug 11, 2026
