An industrial factory in Johor has drawn widespread anger after the Johor state flag and national flag were seen being hung upside down.
According to China Press, the factory is said to be located in Indahpura within the Kulai district.
In the photos that were widely shared on social media, it showed the two upside down flags fluttering in the wind but raised plenty of eyebrows from the public.
Online anger
Needless to say, the sight triggered many Malaysians, who slammed the factory for showing the ultimate form of disrespect towards the country’s emblem.
They also criticised the factory’s management of failing to notice the error in a timely fashion, with some accusing the factory of hanging the flags incorrectly on purpose.
Some also questioned whether foreign employees were the ones who hung the flags as they might not know the correct way of displaying it.
Factory shut down
It didn’t take long for the authorities to spring into action and order the factory’s closure to facilitate investigations.
In a statement by Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, he said it was a “serious” matter as both flags represented the identity, dignity and sovereignty of the country and state.
He added the Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) has temporarily closed the premises pending an explanation from the company and the completion of an undertaking. Both flags were immediately rectified too.
The factory was ordered to close under the Licensing of Trades, Businesses and Industries By-Laws 2019, including By-law 49(2), and By-law 45(1).
Jafni also issued a stern warning to other business owners, companies and industrial operators in Johor regarding the correct display of flags.
Negligence cannot be used as an excuse to take lightly the respect due to symbols of national and state sovereignty.
“Our position is clear — the dignity of the country must be protected, the dignity of Johor must be upheld, flags must be respected and the law must be enforced,” he said as quoted by NST.
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