September 3, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR – The display of Palestinian flags during patriotic events in recent days, including on Malaysia’s National Day on Aug 31, has sparked controversy in the Muslim-majority nation where there is widespread support for the Palestinians in the 11-month-long conflict in Gaza.
This followed the raising of the Palestinian flag and a banner by Selangor football club fans on Aug 24, which featured what appeared to be a Palestinian freedom fighter along with Malaysian star footballer Faisal Halim.
It happened while the national anthem “Negaraku” was playing before the start of the prestigious FA Cup final at the national stadium in Bukit Jalil.
While that incident was widely criticised, a post on X that showed Malaysia’s flag, widely called Jalur Gemilang (Glorious Stripes), side-by-side with a Palestinian flag on every floor of a high-rise apartment block drew mixed responses.
The post has been viewed nearly three million times since Aug 30.
“I’m a born and bred Malaysian and I love my Negaraku, Jalur Gemilang and everything Malaysian. My dad and grandad were at Stadium Merdeka on 31/08/57. I’m not at all cool with another country’s flag being raised for OUR Merdeka alongside Our Jalur Gemilang!” posted a user going by devprasad888.
The post on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter drew nearly a thousand comments and 10,000 likes, and was reposted 3,000 times, but not always by those supportive of the sentiment, with some accusing the user of hating Muslims and being a Zionist.
“Malaysians shouldnt raise Palestinian flag on Merdeka Day. We should raise Palestinians flag every single day,” responded X user arxxxxmand.
Dr Khalil Hadi, international affairs and foreign relations chairman of Malaysia’s largest Malay Muslim party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia, acknowledged that some may ask why Malaysians have such strong feelings over the Palestinian issue, to the point that on Independence Day, the Jalur Gemilang is raised along with the Palestinian flag.
“This is because this country has tasted the suffering of colonialism. Our rights were taken away, our pride in our nation and faith were insulted. We feel the suffering of Palestinians, whose rights have been denied and their dignity tarnished by Zionists,” Dr Khalil, who is also a Terengganu state executive councillor, said on Sept 1 in response to the controversy.
However, some people on social media pointed out how the act of raising a foreign flag is technically illegal under the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949, but because “it’s Palestine, everyone closes their eyes because of sentiment”.
In November 2023, Harma Zulfika Deraman, 30, was jailed six months and fined RM500 (S$151) for flying the Israeli flag in Terengganu under this law.
State police chief Mazli Mazlan had explained that “a permit and approval from the local authorities must be obtained before any flags are hung or waved”.
Malaysians, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, have been increasingly vocal in their support for Palestine since the war began after Hamas militants on Oct 7, 2023, entered Israel and killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while taking more than 250 individuals into captivity in Gaza, according to the Israeli authorities.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israel’s ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, and driven most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes.
Major brands such as Starbucks, McDonald’s and KFC in Malaysia have been hit by sustained boycotts for allegedly supporting Israel financially. Tens of thousands of people have attended rallies in support of Palestine, including those organised by the government. However, there have been no reports of anyone being hauled up for flying the Palestinian flags, whether at their premises or during these gatherings.
A TikTok video of the incident at the FA Cup final, viewed nearly 300,000 times, has garnered thousands of reactions, including many asking why the Palestinian flag was raised instead of Malaysia’s, before the game.
Johor Darul Takzim won the Fa Cup trophy by defeating Selangor 6-1.
Human rights lawyer and activist Siti Kasim said the act of raising the Palestinian flag was “so wrong” in a Facebook post resharing the video.
She added: “These people have no respect to our country and King! Some Malaysians have gone bonkers! Disgusting!”