Weaponising Of Flags In Uk Malaysia Signal Hijacking Of National Symbol For Right Wing Agenda

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Letter to Editor
The unfolding protests by far-right faction in the UK over arriving migrants bear startling resemblance to the scenario here in Malaysia.
For starters, the national flag of both countries has been weaponised to further a nationalist agenda.
In the UK, the Union Jacks have been hoisted or painted at roundabouts, lamp posts and on many residences. A celebration of Britishness, it was argued.
But recently, Loughborough MP Jeevun Sandhur has urged local authorities to remove these symbols from public spaces, claiming that hoisting of the flag made migrants “feel uncomfortable”.
The Labour MP added the Union Jack should be something that unites and be inclusive rather than something that sends the wrong message.

Needless to say, such a viewpoint has received plenty of feedback on social media, both for and against.
But what about the situation in Malaysia? We, too, have had issues with the Jalur Gemilang being similarly weaponised with firebrand UMNO Youth chief, Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh being the poster boy vis-à-vis his defence of race, faith and nation.

Fearful of national flags
From a symbol of peace and unity, the Malaysian flag is now treated with apprehension.
Be they business organisations or private individuals, people are afraid of being accused of being unpatriotic or worse over a honest mistake of accidentally flying the national flag upside down or be subject to severe reprimand if one or two stripes are missing from the flag.

All these accusations became more inflammatory during this year’s Merdeka month when instead of feeling proud and patriotic, many Malaysians were made to feel distinctly unsafe and unwelcome in their own country.
Such is perhaps the trauma felt by minority groups in the UK as native supremacists who felt threatened by the so-called mushrooming of immigration community in the country started to retaliate against alien influence.
The same can also be said regarding the Palestine issue. Many Malaysians are very uneasy at being brow beaten to toe the official line. Yes, Malaysia stands in solidarity with Palestine but not everyone must visibly fly the Palestinian flag whether as a car accessory or an online avatar.
Malaysians who fail to do so are then labelled as “inhuman”, “unfeeling” and yes, you guessed it, “Zionists”.

It is then the Palestine flag begins to take on different connotations. Similarly, the Jalur Gemilang and Union Jack have come to represent ideals that are far from inclusive, thanks to certain groups actions.
We must not allow these forces to hijack national symbols to suit their own agendas, dressing them up as patriotism to belittle others with unfair labels.
How do we re-claim them? There are no easy answers but one way is to start identifying the flag as a statement of inclusivity. That means to have all races in Malaysia readily identify with it as a unifying force instead of one associated with ultra right-wing groups.

The same goes for the Palestinian flag. It should be a symbol of freedom from oppression – not one that is associated with stifling of dissenting voices.
We must claim what is rightfully ours and not let it become symbols of fear. 
Patriotic Malaysian
George Town
 The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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