AS police opened three investigation papers following a Chinese flag displayed on a dragon replica during a cultural parade in Muar, Johor which went viral, one wonders if there are perpetrators who use this to stir racial unrest or hatred towards mainland Chinese or even DAP to a large extent.
For context, the said procession which took place at 6.10pm yesterday (Jan 19) was in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the district’s Chinese association and it entailed what is claimed to be the longest dragon replica in Malaysia alongside lion dances that passed through several main roads in Muar.
Bendera China ketika perarakan naga, polis siasat penganjur
Alias Abd Rani
[email protected]Muar: Tiga kertas siasatan dibuka susulan terdapat bendera China yang dipamerkan pada replika naga ketika perarakan kebudayaan di bandar ini hingga tular di media sosial.
Dalam… pic.twitter.com/5jJsq35Rz4
— MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) January 19, 2025
In all fairness to the organiser, even the Muar district police chief ACP Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz has attested that police monitoring during the parade has found that the dragon replica was decorated with Jalur Gemilang on the right side of its body with China flag featured on the left side.
This could after all be a symbolic gesture in that the dragon replica project was a joint effort following which some mainland China groups might be instrumental in its construction.
In other words, this has nothing to do with questioning DAP’s sense of patriotism – or that of Malaysian Chinese in general – but has a lot to do with politicising the matter to provoke racial disharmony or to fan unjust racial sentiments for political gains.
Whatever the case is, the police have called in the organisers and witnesses to record their statements and assist in the probe with the case is being investigated under Section 505(B) of the Penal Code, Section 6(2) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Section 3(1) of the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949.
Interestingly, this is the second incident in less than a month after a similar incident occurred during the LED lighting festival in Bukit Gambir, Tangkak (also in Johor) late last month.
The Chinese flag was detected on the rocket replica after a complaint from residents with two investigation papers opened under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Over on the Facebook page of opposition-slant Ratu Naga, the impression of “China invading the Malays” to “the Malays are pawning their land to China by voting DAP” or “Malaysia is full of overstaying Chinese nationals” has been painted by commenters who reacted to the political commentator whose real name is Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah.
“What a different kind of reception, right? Where is this? In Guangdong, China?” she asked amid the rising sensitivity of her pro-opposition fan base towards the sight of China flag. – Jan 20, 2025
