A recent legal development in Terengganu has drawn widespread attention, as businessman Harma Zulfika Deraman was sentenced for displaying an Israeli flag at his shop.
According to Daily Express, this incident, which took place on October 19, saw Harma infringing the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949.
According to Section 3(1) of the Act, no person shall display in public, or at, or within any school, any national emblem and the offence is punishable under Section 8(1)(i) of the same law, which provides for a maximum 6 months in prison, a fine of up to RM500, or both, upon conviction.
Nevertheless, Section 5 of the same act specifies that the responsible minister has the authority to grant exemptions to the regulations outlined in Section 3. This can be done either through an official gazette notification or by issuing a written permit for the display of any national emblem.
Harma, who is currently serving a five-year term for a drug offense, faced the Marang magistrates’ court where he pleaded guilty.
The court, led by magistrate Zur Azureen Zainalkefli, imposed a 6-month jail term and a fine of RM500 for this specific offense.
Notably, Harma’s sentence for displaying the flag will only begin after he completes his ongoing prison term.
