A Merdeka campaign launched by the Youth wing of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) received backlash from some Malaysians recently after they urged people to install and wave the party’s flag alongside the Jalur Gemilang this Merdeka month.
Taking to its official social media accounts on Wednesday (21 August), PAS Youth launched the “Wave Jalur Gemilang and PAS flag campaign” which is taking place throughout this August.
PAS Youth urges Malaysians to install the party flag alongside the Malaysian flag
PAS Youth added that all PAS Youth members are asked to install the Malaysian flag and PAS flag at all the party premises, as well as at their homes and on their vehicles.
The party youth wing said that this was meant to light up the patriotic spirit and love for the country within oneself.
Furthermore, the raising of both the Jalur Gemilang and the PAS flag was meant to showcase the love for the ‘genuine’ PAS struggle to form a better Malaysia.
Besides that, PAS Youth also urged everyone to snap a photo of both Jalur Gemilang and PAS flags being installed and upload it to social media with the hashtag #MalaysiaSejahtera.
Many Malaysians took to social media to call out PAS for the campaign
The campaign has since received backlash from some Malaysians, who accused PAS of ‘hijacking’ the Merdeka celebrations and sowing division instead of unity this Independence month.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), user @tjerealjoker called out PAS Youth for the campaign, saying that no other political party had used Merdeka Day for political campaigning.
The X user asserted,
“This is narrow politics by PAS. They politicise everything. Everything is being used to divide the community.”
In the replies, many netizens also bashed PAS for the campaign.
One commenter said that even UMNO during the pinnacle of its power didn’t do such as thing.
Meanwhile, another commenter said that instead of raising the PAS flag, they’re better off flying the Palestine flag in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are being oppressed by Israel.
So, what do you guys think of the campaign by PAS Youth? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: S’poreans Condemn Act of Displaying Malaysian Flag Alongside Singapore Flags at HDB Flat
