As Malaysia gears up for National Day celebrations, a viral video has once again ignited debate over whether the Jalur Gemilang was displayed “upside down” during National Day Parade rehearsals in Putrajaya.
Last night, a Facebook user uploaded a 1-minute-13-second video at 7:39pm, showing a giant Jalur Gemilang being carried past the Finance Ministry building during the parade rehearsal.
Upside down?
In the video, the blue field with the yellow crescent and 14-pointed star appeared in the lower-left corner, and inverted from the viewer’s perspective.
The post, captioned “No matter where the main stage is, this is wrong,” quickly went viral.
The video quickly sparked debate among netizens, with many raising the same question. However, some were quick to point out that it wasn’t wrong but rather a long-established tradition with important meaning.
It is the right way to carry in the Parade
“This actually follows the marching direction of the flag bearer. The crescent and star must always be positioned at the top when viewed from the audience seated on the right side of the stage. The crescent and star must lead (be in front) when marching with the flag.”
“People just want to make it viral. That flag isn’t upside down — it’s our brains that are upside down. Think properly. For decades, during the National Day parade, the flag has always been carried this way, facing the main stage.”
Officials Have Clarified Before
This controversy isn’t new. Back in 2015, Sin Chew Daily reported similar claims, prompting the Malaysian Armed Forces’ public affairs director at the time, Bakhtiar Noor, to clarify the official protocol.
According to him, the Jalur Gemilang in parades must always have the yellow crescent and 14-pointed star positioned at the top while facing the VIP stage, regardless of whether the flag is moving left-to-right or right-to-left.
In the same time, the yellow crescent and 14-pointed star must lead the way. This explains why the flag is carried the way it is, as it has to adhere to established rules and tradition.
