The Penang DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) has called on the Democratic Action Party and its national youth wing to sever all political cooperation with Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh, vowing not to work with him in the next general election.
DAPSY Penang accused Akmal of openly threatening a public prosecutor and leading a mob to a hardware store in Kepala Batas, Penang, targeting and intimidating the owner over an upside-down national flag incident — conduct they say severely undermines Malaysia’s rule of law.
The statement said such actions contradict the Unity Government’s commitment to diversity and harmony, instead deliberately stoking racial tension and eroding public confidence in the government’s ability to maintain stability.
“When Terengganu Umno Youth and PAS used incorrect versions of the national flag, Akmal downplayed the matter. Yet in this case, he deliberately singled out a trader, in line with Bersatu and PAS’s racial narratives, despite Umno being part of the Unity Government,” it read.
DAPSY Penang stressed that any violation of the flag law should be handled by law enforcement through proper legal channels, not by politicians acting as “moral police” or engaging in mob tactics.
The statement also accused Akmal of weaponising patriotism for cheap political gain, jeopardising public safety and business freedom, and eroding ethical standards in youth politics.
“If politicians are allowed to override the law and stir racial divisions, Malaysia will become a country where citizens live in fear. Akmal’s actions show contempt for the rule of law and arrogance that makes him a cancer in our political system,” it said.
