DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has condemned Umno Youth chief Akmal Salleh for leading a protest outside a hardware store in Kepala Batas, Penang, on Aug 14 despite warnings from the Inspector-General of Police and the Penang police chief.
He said the act constitutes bullying and intimidation, and instructed all DAP Youth (DAPSY) chapters nationwide to lodge police reports.
Loke noted that the shop owner had already apologised for mistakenly hanging the Malaysian flag upside down, and that police investigations were still ongoing. Yet, Akmal proceeded to mobilise the demonstration, which Loke said openly defied the law, disrupted public order, and caused surrounding businesses to shut early out of fear.
He said in a statement today, such actions go beyond the boundaries of law and Malaysia’s multicultural norms, and should be met with firm legal action. Police reports will be lodged under Sections 503 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Penal Code, as well as new anti-bullying provisions under Sections 507B and 507C for causing fear, harassment, or distress.
“The Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of national sovereignty and must be flown correctly and respectfully. Threats, bullying, and creating tension are not the way to resolve this,” Loke stressed.
