Persatuan Guan Gong has recently apologised after a group of Chinese nationals went viral for waving China flags during an event in Teluk Intan, Perak.
The matter, however, is still being debated online, with the Perak MB also recently sharing his take on the matter. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Youth Chief, Neow Choo Seong, on the other hand, released an official statement on his Facebook page and explained why waving Palestinian flags in Malaysia is acceptable, but not China flags.
“It’s in solidarity with the Palestinians”
When it comes to waving the flags of Palestine, Neow said it is in response to the oppression by the Zionist military and the solidarity of the global community against the brutal attacks that have killed many innocent children and civilians in Palestine.
“This war crime has sparked widespread opposition from numerous countries, leading to formal resolutions of condemnation at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This is an international issue.”
Neow explained that waving the Palestinian flag for the reasons mentioned above is very different from the actions of a few who wave other foreign flags without justification. However, he clarified that waving foreign flags in Malaysia is not entirely prohibited.
“There should be a strong reason for doing so. For instance, at international sports tournaments, foreign flags are waved due to the participation of the respective countries. Tell me, which countries will allow this incident to happen?”
Neow also questioned why the organizers, whom he is convinced are Malaysians, did not wave Malaysian flags during the event itself.
“Isn’t Teluk Intan in Malaysia? Isn’t it Malaysians’ responsibility to promote our country, especially at tourist hotspots? Think about it. This is not a racial or politic issue but I am highlighting how some Malaysians don’t know their responsibilities.”
This leads to another question: Why not China flags (or any other foreign flags)?
Neow said that it is the duty and responsibility of every Malaysian citizen to be loyal to the country, which is in line with the principles of the Rukun Negara.
“Malaysians should possess a strong sense of identity and love for Malaysia. Our ancestors fought hard to free the country from colonial powers. So, why should we glorify other countries more than our own? We must not compromise the dignity and sovereignty of our own nation.”
What do you think of his take on this matter?
