Posted on August 3, 2008
From today, I shall join Sheih aka Kickdefella and Zorro and display an upside down Malaysian flag in the sidebar of this blog as an ongoing protest against the suffering inflicted upon anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia by a government that has systematically rendered impotent key institutions of this nation by its incompetence, its self-serving policies, its continued divide and rule policy and its indifference to the rampant corruption at the highest level of government.
[…] the Malaysian flag or not? 4 08 2008 Bloggers Kickdefella, Zorro and Haris Ibrahim will raise the Malaysian flag upside down to show their protest about the current state of affairs […]
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The People's Parliament 
cuddlyfamily
August 3, 2008
wow.
Bravo to you and the others.
Farida
August 3, 2008
Me too, Haris. And can the petition to our Agong carry the statement about why our flag is like this?
Farida,
Sorry, too late
Jimmy
August 3, 2008
True Haris, they are selling our country to the dog. Soon we will be like South Africa. I was in cape Town in 2003. It was not safe to walk in the streets. Many people wanted to leave the country. White men who still own vineyard/wineries do not see any future in the country.
su
August 3, 2008
I’ve also joined with Sheih earlier today.
temenggong
August 3, 2008
Okay!
Now you have crossed the rubicon!
I don’t see the bridges. (You burnt it.)
You can’t go back.
So, welcome!
kluangman
August 3, 2008
Mengajar masyarakat melakukan kesalahan untuk membetulkan kebenaran – ini budaya mana ??
kluangman,
Ini budaya rakyat yang sudah bosan dengan sikap kerajaan yang tidak menghiraukan penderitaan rakyat.
Dude Cerosky
August 3, 2008
I don’t know what you plan to achieve by doing this. Rather silly i suppose, perhaps childish.
Flags upside down, so? And it suppose to represent protest against the suffering ..? I simply can not see the logic behind it.
I’m trying very hard to understand the other 2 who’s doing it, and you want to join these clowns wannabe, why?
Grow up Haris, you are better than this.
SAJ
August 3, 2008
We Anak Bangsa Malaysia must at all times hold the national flag the ‘right way’and be proud to do so.
Please remember this is the flag that was raised on 31st August 1957 to declare “Merdeka”.
We do great disservice to the memory of Tunku Abdul Rahman if we show disrespect to the very national symbol that was raised on the day he so proudly proclaimed independence.
Please, do not let our anger and disgust with the current crop of pathetic politicians cloud our judgment on this one.
Please Haris. I strongly urge you to reconsider.
Thanks
Jaya
A true Malaysian
August 3, 2008
I can understand Haris, Zorro & Kickdefella.
Frustration is the word to describe all of us anak Bangsa Malaysia. Malaysia is ‘upside down’.
colorless
August 3, 2008
Do not attend the ceremony in Dataran Merdeka as a mark of protest against the leadership. The size of the crowd (minus the school children who are sponsered by gov. anyway) will be a good bearing on how successful the protest will be.
Paul Warren
August 3, 2008
Maybe civil disobedience is what may have to be conjured up. Are we up for it?
Balasubramaniam goes missing. Saiful goes into hiding and makes pot shots. The most absurd is thrust on us and we are supposed to believe. Altantuya case looks doomed. Razak Baginda’s wife who came to court wearing protest shirts and making a lot of noise in the begining remains absolutely silent over Raja Petra’s Statutory declaration as well as that of Bala’s. I would have thought she would have come celebrating and supporting Bala and Raja Petra. Does she know something that we don’t? Her silence is deafening.
Bala turns over in under 24 hours. What? Was a gun pointed to his head or that of his wife maybe? And so he turns and looks like a real bum the next day?
I like chopin
August 3, 2008
Dear Haris
Beside this idea,why don’t we also stay away from the celebration organise by the BN?Usually a lot of people will turn up with families and friends at Dataran Merdeka to watch the parade and shows.If the field is quite empty,that will send a loud message to those on the stage that the rakyat are boycotting them and staying at home.Better still,don’t turn on the TV that day and boycott the MSM as well!
RKP
August 3, 2008
Respect is in the heart.If you feel your heart is hurt,hang it upside down in your heart.We understand.
You are right,there is no point puting up an act of patriotism, when you actually don’t in you heart.
We can’t blame you,just wait till justice is done!!!
Your home-page will have many Malaysian flags soon.
daryl
August 3, 2008
What does it got to do with the country. I disagree with the upside down flag. The problem is with BN/UMNO politicians not the country/flag the original leaders that fought for the country. If any flag got to by upside down are the BN, UMNO, MCA, MIC and others not our Malaysia’s flag. THIS IS A VERY VERY VERY WRONG MOVE.
yh
August 3, 2008
dude
why do i think you are a paid cybertropper. have a life of your own and stop selling your soul for a penny.
jaya
this is just a way to tell the corrupts to stop disintegrating and start managing the country. loyalty to the country remains steadfast.
wandererAUS
August 3, 2008
Hi Harris,
I choose to differ with your action. To me, a flag represents the nation and her people. Soldiers die for defending the nation, is’nt this action shows great disrespect to them? Th corrupted BN politicians, now the administrator is not a permanent govt. I will rather show my disrespect to these people and their parties that have disgraced this nation. By all means, do it on Umno flag or kick these BN crooks out, I will
be too glad. The flag must always be respected.
kiddokit
August 3, 2008
No, fellas. It is not a sign of disrespect according to Rockybru. It is an accepted form to show distress.
jarod
August 4, 2008
Well, come August 31st, don’t waste time watching the parade. Take your precious holiday and sleep. Else, bring your children go some park and enjoy scenery. Better to live a healthy life than watching parade.
Shiok Guy
August 4, 2008
Haris..
Me too..
I will link direct from your picture if you dont mind..
Lazy to download and upload la,,,
Cheers
Shiok Guy
Samuel Goh Kim Eng
August 4, 2008
A protest is a protest
However it’s carried out
When patience is finally put to the test
There can be grave silence even when you shout
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 040808
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Mon. 4th Aug. 2008.
Jeffrey Lim
August 4, 2008
I agree with wandererAUS, the national flag has got nothing to do with the rotten Government, maybe UMNO flag or upside down BN flag means more… I think there are many other better ways to protest.
Reniv
August 4, 2008
ANY FORM OF PROTEST,DISSENT OR SHOW OF DISSATISFACTION THAT AS LONG AS NOBODY WILL BE HURT, INJURE OR PUT IN HARMS WAY IS A WONDERFUL GREAT IDEA.
THE FLAG CAN FLY UPRIGHT OR UPSIDE DOWN AS LONG IS A MALAYSIAN FLAG WE ARE ALRIGHT, THE MINUTE WE WAIVE THE WHITE FLAG FOR JUDICIARY REFORM, CORRUPTION,CONSPIRACY,INTOLERANCE,MURDER,UNITY & VIOLENCE, VOTE RIGGING & PADDING WE FAIL OUR DUTY AS CITIZENS.
SO GO FOR IT, HARRIS! IT TAKES A LOT OF MAVERICKS TO CHANGE THE MIND SET OF THOSE WITH “HERD MENTALITY”
doggone
August 4, 2008
I agree with the suggestion to reposition the flag for the simple reason that the government of the day should always uphold if not alleviate the image of the nation’s emblem . They have NOT, but instead, degraded the country’s image and continue to do so blatantly in the eyes of the world. An upside down flag is just a reflection of the truth. If the power that be is impervious to the message, the only other way is to hit them on the head with our flagpoles !!!
Now, what would Sleepy’s reaction be if he chance upon an upside down flag? I wouldn’t be surprise if he does a half flip, stand on his head, view it in perspective with legs in the air, and wonder why a bird is perched upside down on the masthead.
Vince
August 4, 2008
Good to know so many of “us” feels the same way. I will too spread the word.
Good luck.
May we all live to see the day this group of “samseng” be held accountable for all the mis-deeds.
nurfikri
August 4, 2008
Watch the movie “The Valley Of Elah”, a movie about American involvement in Iraq to understand what an upside down flag of a country signifies. It means that the nation and the people is in distress, which is what we are now.
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
August 4, 2008
The reversing of the flag is a powerful symbol, declaring, as has been done here, that the nation is in distress and in turmoil. I first saw the use of the symbol in the very powerful film “In The Valley Of Elah”. Briefly, the film tells the story of a patriot, a by the book retired military sergeant Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) who learn that his son has gone AWOL on returning from Iraq. He sets out to his son’s base to look into what’s happening. On the way out of his town, he passes the school where the custodian, an immigrant, is raising the flag upside-down. Deerfield stops and gets the custodian to fly the flag the right way up, telling him what the reverse means.
He then launches into his enquiry, finding out that his son has been killed in an act of random violence by his squad mates and that his son had been himself psychologically affected by what he had gone through in Iraq.
Hank’s faith shatters, he returns broken, not only for the loss of his son but of an ideal, his perception of his country and all it stands for no longer the same. Getting home, he finds that his son had sent him a flag. Hank takes it to the school and hoists it in reverse, telling the custodian to let it fly like that, even at night. His America was in trouble.
The Valley Of Elah was the site of the battle between David and Goliath.
Our Malaysia is in trouble. The custodians of this nation have forgotten who it is they serve. The flag belongs to all of us. It is a living symbol of our country and the ideals it represents. There is no shame in standing up to defend those ideals
In doing what he has, Haris has done no different than what he has done countless of times. He has stated the obvious and risen up in defence of what all of us want: our freedom to be Malaysian.
Though some of us may not have the courage to follow his lead nor the imagination to believe that we can be a free and fair country in the truest sense and to see what it is that we need to do to get there, we should not undermine those who do.
In standing up to be counted by declaring our ideals in the boldest and most obvious way, Kickdefella and Haris they are doing the very thing that so many of us are terrified of: drawing attention to our cause by drawing Goliath’s attention to themselves.
They need our support. And they have mine.
Malik Imtiaz
fergie
August 4, 2008
My upside down flag is up! We must unite to save our country!
kaki ayam
August 4, 2008
It’s hard to accept the image of our national flag upside down. I interpret that as an act of the enemy, a battle lost by the nation. To disrespect the flag is to disrespect the nation, which basically means disrespecting and disregarding each and every proud malaysian.
It’s sad to look upon that image and it’s even more sad to see haris putting up in his blog.
Having said all these, I guess most of us do understand the reason for that image. And knowing that the flag is put up by a proud and respected Malaysian, the message is all the more significant and complex at the same time.
By the way, putting the flag upside down should never be interpreted as burning and stepping the flag.
Haris, we cry together with you for the nation.
KaKiaYam
Paul Warren
August 4, 2008
You can desecrate our intelligence and drag it through the gutter. You can desecrate the county’s reputation and honour. You can demean the people and make us all look like idiots. You can economically sabotage the economy by behaving like gangsters and the mafia. You can threaten the people and you can use country’s resources for your personal benefit. You can pulverize and plunder and you can even rape an under aged girl. You can build your own palace with unaccounted for money without any planning permission or local authority permits. Just make sure you are an UMNO member. You will be o.k.
Well, Haris, you are not an UMNO member. And you are desecrating the flag. (Not that I believe it. But its up to the UMNOites to define your action, right?) Wonder what this is going to stir.
kluangman
August 4, 2008
kluangman,
Ini budaya rakyat yang sudah bosan dengan sikap kerajaan yang tidak menghiraukan penderitaan rakyat
………………………………………………..
PRU12 menunjukkan majoriti rakyat masih memilih BN untuk memrintah negara walaupun tanpa 2/3, ahli UMNO setakat ini belum berganjak untuk memilih Dolah sebagai Presiden, sekaligus menjadi PM.
DYMM masih tidak membubarkan parlimen kerana masih percaya kepada memandanya, Dolah.
Rekod pilihanraya kecil juga menunjukkan BN akan menang dengan mudah, termasuk di Permatang Pauh ini.
Kalau minoriti rakyat bosan, tunggu PRU13 membuat keputusan, bukan sekarang..
Jangan ajak rakyat buat bodoh dan salah untuk menegakkan kebenaran, kerana cara itu salah, jawapan itu salah.
ella-mae
August 4, 2008
the malaysia flag is now displayed upside down outside our home for all the neighbours to see.
black crow
August 4, 2008
I agree with those who are not in favour of putting our national flag upside down. Do it to the goverment but spare our flag as it is our country’s symbol. Are you angry with our beloved country? I choose to fly it the right way up this Merdeka Day as I am proud to be MALAYSIAN inspite of our goverment.
Raja
August 4, 2008
“Well, Haris, you are not an UMNO member. And you are desecrating the flag.” Paul Warren
Flying the national flag upside down does not meet the definition of ‘desecration’. It is only a sign of ‘distress’. Burning the flag does – and in the U.S. it is only misdemeanor.
Flying the flag upside down is about free speech.
Raja
August 4, 2008
ella-mae,
Why are you flying the national flag upside? Are you in some form of distress? Do you need the police to come over?
Helen Ang
August 4, 2008
Haris,
You’re a maverick, and this trait in you (+ your streak of mischief) is why I’m in PP.
Sometimes it takes doing something pronouncedly iconoclastic to stir public consciousness, otherwise the rest will remain obliviously content as the metaphorical frog being slowly boiled alive without realising that the water temperature is rising.
I’m cognizant of the point-of-view of the politically correct brigade, i.e. the flag represents the Tanahair, whereas it is the government-Malaysians-well-deserve that is screwing up.
And you can expect to get a lot of sanctimonious flak for doing this, Haris, just as I had to suffer the insufferable grandstanders on my Marina Mahathir ‘Bloggers strike’ post.
Stick to your guns on this. As always, you have my support.
So let it fly … upside down if need be, until our country can see itself the right side up again.
scout
August 4, 2008
We are living in a highly polarized country with great restrictions on personal liberty, rampant corruption, an ineffective judiciary, and rising inflation. You bet we are a nation in distress!
“In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.” ~Mark Twain~
ella-mae
August 4, 2008
raja,
i am a malaysian, so yes i am in distress. my neighbours have started asking questions and i have explained my stance to them. so what if the police turn up at my door step. i have let go of my fear of them a long time ago, raja. when are u going to do the same?
meanwhile.. please check this out.
anna brella
August 4, 2008
Brilliant idea!
I am sure dear Malaysia understands that her Rakyat are registering a powerful protest on her behalf by standing up for her and her rakyat’s distress over the myriad problems created by the bad governance and bad policies of those who were entrusted with ensuring the wellbeing and growth of her rakyat, her economy, her national interest and her international image, reputation and standing.
This is a measured and symbolic gesture that does not in any way, as others have mentioned here, desecrate the flag nor show disrespect for Malaysia.
Instead it shows the authorities in power how they have effectively reversed Malaysia’s good original direction for growth set in place when her flag was first raised on that Merdeka Day in 1957 by her pioneering leaders.
So lots of Brownie points to Haris, Sheih aka Kickdefella, Zorro and to all the other trailblazers out there who are making this pointed stand by flying the much loved Jalur Gemilang upside down!
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon
Patricia
August 4, 2008
Haris,
I respect your decision to do this, and I do understand the reasons for it.
But I myself cannot do this. It goes against everything I have learned all my life. The flag is the symbol of my country. And despite the fact that too many things are the wrong-way-up right now, I cannot see how displaying it this way helps our cause.
I won’t be flying the flag at all. I choose this over flying it upside down, which to me, implies that all hope is lost. Is it?
Pat
Patricia,
And I respect yours
Amenic
August 4, 2008
If you remember what happened to Namewee, one should think again about what (not) to do. A sign of Protest should be made, but not at the expense of the National Anthem and Flag. It’s our symbol. Without our symbol, we are more than lost in the global map and yes, we would be a laughing stock. Mocking our own country in this manner will backfire.
shar101
August 4, 2008
I understand and respect Haris’s decision (as well as Sheih’s and Zorro’s plus others who are joining) on this.
Brought up as an airforce brat, I’ve been taught to honor any of the nation’s symbols with undivided loyalty. The Jalur Gemilang is probably the most visible artefact of a nation’s existence.
There are however two ‘upright’ alternatives besides hanging the JG upside-down:-
a) Hoisting it at half-mast also means distress although the more common ‘showing of grief or in mourning’ is the widely accepted definition.
b) Tying a knot on the JG is also another ‘distress’ sign.
Whichever option that one decide on must clearly signify that it is NOT a symbol of surrender or defeat. Let your personal conscience guide you on this grave matter.
Meanwhile, we should also ‘hartal’ any Merdeka celebration on 31st August and instead have gatherings for Malaysia Day on 16th September as a show of unity with Sabah and Sarawak (and NOT because AI wanted it).
Dude Cerosky
August 4, 2008
First of all, Dear Malik,
I’m sure you and Haris are good buddies, you would simple throw your support regardless of what he did, or choose to do. That is expected. What are friends for. Nice try.
I can not agree with you on this. Your argument simply does not hold any ground, just because it TLJ did it in a movie , and i assume it brought you tears, it does not mean it is a right thing to do.
Secondly, do you think the flag represent only the government, judiciary, police, etc, ie the things that you dislike about a country. Simply because few fails, everything else fails.
For me a national flag mean everything, the good and the bad about a country, it represent the people, the ruling party, the opposition, and it tells the history and represent the future of a nation. The flags tells stories of how the country evolve, from what it used to be , to what it is now (irregardless of how corrupt it is). To me (in my own opinion), those who invert simply don’t understand what a flag means.
For better or for worse, it is still your national flag that you should be proud off, and it must always be upright, you can also consider it as a symbol of the hope you want the future to be.
My only advise to you, please stop this nonsense.
Don’t get too excited and follow the crowd (in this case ,the 2 clowns wannabe).
Those who claim that i’m UMNO cybertrooper, why can’t we disagree and still be in the same team. Aren’t this turning into the same UMNO/BN style , either you are with me or you are with the enemy (opposition). I remembered some UMNO members calling your law minister (zaid ibrahim) an opposition agen (or something) just because he sings a different tone in parliment.
Well. it turns out that you are no better than these UMNO people. Still the same old shit, even in the people’s parliment. (you here is not refering to you Haris, just to those who simply piss me off).
Dude Cerosky,
Just to confirm, yes, Imtiaz and I are very good friends.
Such good friends that we would not insult each other by faking agreement on any issue.
makenon
August 4, 2008
Our flag is called `jalur gemilang`Either way i could only see the `jalur`.
Untuk masa depan yang lebih cemerlang, gemilang and what? temberang?!
Khoja Nadim
August 4, 2008
Korang ni dah over betul. Dulu kutuk ahli dlm Parlimen krn tidak gentlemen atau unparliamentary.
La ni sendiri buat kerja kurang asam pulak semuanya atas nama “Rakyat”. Betul ke? Rakyat mana yg bagi korang mandat ni. Lepaih tu tak segan silu pakai nama Al Marhum Bapak Kemerdekaan pulak.
With the so-called insiden “bakar bendera” di Batu Buruk and the so-called insult to the National Anthem still fresh in memory, why embark on this regressive step?
To err is human. Sila gostan balik.
Jeremiah
August 4, 2008
If celebrating Merdeka Day is a question of whether to fly the flag, or not, whether to fly it right side up or upside down, then it is just political posturing. Read Susan Loone’s blog on this issue, Raising The Malaysian Flag or not?
As several bloggers have said before, the Malaysian flag does not represent the government but the country and its people. What is more meaningful is for both the PM and the defacto head of the Opposition to proclaim a national day of repentance either on Merdeka or Sept 16 Malaysia Day.
You may ask: Why should we innocent citizens repent when we have done no wrong to the country?
Not responsible for the state of the country? Really? Who abstained from voting for the past two decades to allow for a one-party monopoly? Who continued to support the compliant newspapers?
Lastly, who cursed Malaysia the blessed country by equating the government with the country, saying things like Malaysia is going down the drain or we are the Zimbabwe of SEA?
We can do what we want with the flag or any symbol, but our words of mockery and curses on Malaysia may one day come true.
Passerby
August 4, 2008
No, I disagree… Our allegiance should be to Malaysia. Therefore, we should fly the flag correctly to show its respect.
Our issues are with the Barisan Nasional government… Fly their flag upside-down instead.
Vijay Kumar
August 4, 2008
Chopping the cherry tree- Malaysian political version.
I remember a story told to me by my late father regarding telling the truth and facing the consequences,
It has been a story told by many a father to his offspring.
I am of the conviction that the truth is not always a simple “yes” or “no” but many of us miss the point
when it comes to taking decisive action.
Legend has it that George Washington, America’s first president, chopped down a cherry tree in his youth.
story George gives the tree a good swing and chops it down with an axe . His father sees the damaged tree and asks his son if he knows who did the deed.
George is quoted bravely admitting the truth :-
“I can’t tell a lie, Pa; you know I can’t tell a lie. I did cut it with my axe.”
This is a satire of how some Malaysian politicians circa 2008 may have reacted to the question :-
PM Badawi – I did not cut down the tree , I was just taking a nap underneath it.
Najib – I swear that I have never MET that tree.
Hishamuddin- …..but I only own a keris ,not axe, how to cut down the tree.
Dr.M – Apa nama cherry tree, I chopped it down because , I don’t like the idea of Pak lah sleeping under it.
Chua Soi Lek – Yes it was me, I resign as caretaker of this orchard.
VK Lingam – It could be me, it might have been me but I don’t think its me.
Anwar Ibrahim – I DID NOT do it, and I am not giving any DNA samples for you to plant on the axe handle.
Khir Toyo – the new state government should just trim the grass and not waste time asking who cut the tree.
Ahmad Said (Terrenganu MB) I chopped it because cherry trees are more expensive to maintain than durian trees.
Azalina Othman – The cherry tree is not included under my tourism MOU so I cut it down besides there were
unauthorized signboards put up around the tree.
Shabery Cheek – I challenge you to a debate on tree cutting.
Samy Velu – I chopped it because HINDRAF members were using it as a meeting point
Wira Ali Rustam – We have planted Durian trees for 50 years and we will plant them for another 50 years,
we do not need cheery trees, apple trees , pear trees and all these other foreign trees.
Rais Yatim – you must see the bigger picture, Ahmad said cherry trees are expensive to maintain,
Ali Rustan said that are against our national identity and I needed to test my new axe, so you see-
its a WIN-WIN situation all around.
Sharir Samad – I cut the tree because we could no longer afford to subsidize it.
Karpal Singh – The bigfoot creature did it.
Bung Mokhtar – The big monkey did it
Pandikar Amin Mulia – There is nothing in the standing orders against chopping cherry trees
Kinabatangan duduk, Bukit Gelugor duduk.sit down.
Khairy Jamaluddin – I did not do it, neither did the mat rempits.by the way, what’s a cherry tree ?
Lim Kit Siang – In response to Khairy – cherry tree also you don’t know, you are an insult to Oxford.
Nazri Aziz – racist, racist, racist, when we cut down durian trees nobody made a fuss.
Malaysian Citizens – oh for heavens sake ! somebody plant something before we all starve to death.
Dear Parliamentarians of all stripes, while you debate the merits of your arguments and lambast your opponents,
please also spend more time tackling the issues that affect the nation, that is primarily the reason we voted you in.
This is no longer the 1970’s , you can no longer skirt around the issues using political spin, some of us are jaded,
some of us are cynical, some of us are wiser but very few of us are going to fall for it, so please do not insult our intelligence.
Your actions, inaction and response to challenges have dire consequences for this beloved country that we all share.
If you cannot do this within reasonable limits, we the the citizens have no qualms about replacing you with those who can.
Best Regards
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
(original author of this piece)
Raja
August 4, 2008
Guys, flying the flag any whichway – upside down or downside up is not desecration – just an exercise of constitutional free speech.
Just do not masturbate on it!
black crow
August 4, 2008
THIS MESSAGE IS DIRECTED TO ALL THREE OF OUR HEROES. I HAVE READ MOST OF THE COMMENTS IN MOST BLOGS WHICH CARRY THIS UPSIDEDOWN FLAG PROTEST COME THIS 31 AUGUST, AND THE MAJORITY IS AGAINST IT. I MAY BE MISTAKEN BUT IN ORDER TO BE FAIR PUT UP A VOTING COUNT SECTION IN YOUR BLOG AND SEE THE VIEWS. MY POINT IS, IF YOU HAVE EARS LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AS YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT OUR ADUN/MP HEAR YOU GUYS (REPESENTING PEOPLE POWER).PLEASE TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ON THE POLE TOGETHER WITH OUR FLAG AS A CONTINUING SIGN OF PROTEST. OUR JALUR GEMILANG IS INNOCENT OF OUR GOVERMENT TRANGRESSION.
cruzeiro
August 4, 2008
Passerby Says:
August 4, 2008 at 5:52 pm
No, I disagree… Our allegiance should be to Malaysia. Therefore, we should fly the flag correctly to show its respect.
======================
Passerby,
I’m glad that there are people around with common sense and decency.
It is immoral that you as a citizen should desecrate something that you are supposed to stand up for, just becos you wanna condemn BN. Such intentional desecration is a sin.
Haris,
Just like Rocky’s braindead idea of a strike and the fatwa against saluting/ laying wreaths at the National Monument for the ceremony to honor fallen heroes & patriots, this is just another pea-brained idea ….
And you support such a HP6 idea?
What?
Kickdefella did it?
We need to Kickdefella in-de-head for such a thought, alright – maybe that will give him some good ideas then, shouldn’t we …
God help us all ….
Are Malaysians so bankrupt morally that they wish to desecrate the flag to protest against the BN?
Whats stopping you from doing it to the BN/Umno flag instead?
=====================
Let’s Screw the Patriots and the Flag now, Shall We?
http://cruzinthots.blogspot.com/2008/08/lets-screw-patriots-and-flag-now-shall.html
cruzeiro
August 4, 2008
Raja,
I think you’re a moron and should STFU.
Don’t get offended okay …. just excercising “free speech”!
Now, is that an oxymoron or what?
I like chopin
August 4, 2008
Dear Haris
We are adults who understood the country’s situation and why we need to resort to this act of flying the flag upside down but how are we going to explain this to young minds who are curious with what they saw on my laptop?
Menyalak-er
August 4, 2008
Hahaha.. Raja’s right. Enuff trouble as it is.
So i’ll fly a kite and take a hike on 31.08.08 and leave my flag alone.
Flying it at half mast would not do, as it implies a death which is certainty. We are certainly not dead yet. Tying a knot too knotty a problem. Flying upside down sort of gives the impression of irreverance. Burning it is certainly a no no.
Anyway, true patriotism is from the heart. Nothing else.
Vaseau
August 4, 2008
The country has gone upside down…and that is a fact.
In sports (football, hockey, athletics) we ruled the region…now we are left to reminisce about the good old days when “majulah sukan untuk negara” really meant something.
In education, with just a couple of universities, we used to produce Rhodes scholars, scientists and some of the brightest professionals (who have since left our shores). Now we churn out unemployable graduates from self-proclaimed world class universities which keep going down the ranks with absolute predictability.
Our civil service was at one time second to none…indeed it demonstrated a standard that other fledgling nations wanted to emulate. Now, it is synonymous with gross inefficiency and corruption and marked by thinly veiled racism.
Our police force was at one time the epitome of discipline and professionalism and often showcased in the Commonwealth. Now it is the butt of jokes (emphasis on butt)
Our judiciary during the heyday of Suffian et al earned the admiration and respect of both the citizenry and the world at large. Not it is the butt of “correct X 3” jokes ( once again, emphasis on butt)
Our social relations at one time were mainly marked by mild affection and mutual respect with a “live and let live” outlook. Now with some help from Dr Mengle and his conspirators at BTN, we have drifted apart. Indeed we have been socially engineered to think of and expect the worst from each other.
Our political leaders (regardless of their persuasion) were men of honour: Tengku Abdul Rahman, Seenivasagam, Tan Chee Khoon, Sardon Jubir, Sambanthan, Tan Siew Sin, Dr Ismail, Khir Johari … Now we have the likes of Kinabinatang et al, (please fill in the blanks here………..)
To compensate for all of the above and more, we built tall buildings, made the biggest ketupat, fried the largest goreng pisang and to cap it all, paid a king’s ransom to send a nobody on a space jaunt… (and we threaten to do it again)
And all this was accomplished with the consent and collusion of an unthinking, naive, “father-knows-best” populace led by “leaders” whose over-sized egos compensated for their utter lack of scruples, morals and competence.
The country indeed has gone belly up in all ways that count. Shouldn’t the position of flag reflect its current state?
A population that is unable to discern steady decline but is only capable of reacting to calamitous disaster (after the fact), needs to be jolted to reality.
This country has gone upside down in so many ways and someone must do something to sound the clarion to shake the sleeping masses out of their induced stupor.
That is exactly what Haris has done.
shaydflin
August 5, 2008
This is a hatred initiator blog.
The authority should come in and stop this blog because it starts hatred among many innocent Malaysian, especially the Malays. This is the blog that creates hatred in the Malay society against fellow Malaysian Chinese, Indian and other. Stop this blog if you want to leave in peace and harmony.
bumi non-malay
August 5, 2008
Yah very VERY stupid to fly flag upside down…..Wear Black on Merdeka 08 instead.
That Flag did no Wrong…….go and have your head checked……
Jeffrey Lim
August 5, 2008
Yeah, the country has turned turtle allright, and became the laughing stock to the world and yet the masses keeps silent except for a few. Has anything change for the better?..since when??
Perhaps it’s not wrong to says that nothing gonna change over night. This turtle is not going to turn itself around on it’s feet. It has just a couple more breath to take before it expires… If nothing is being done by the ‘silent majority’… then we will ends up like the once famous leatherback turtle on trengganu coast.
Please save Malaysia
ttc
August 5, 2008
Haris, howdee 🙂
From where I sit, I see no harm at all in hoisting up the truth the way people see it so that the national flag, which should represent the people’s pride in their nation, does not fly in the face of logic or be used as a sham to varnish and gloss-over hypocrisy and truth and to mock and insult the intelligence of the people and belittle the true greatness of Malaysia.
As the JG flag belongs to all Malaysians, this symbolic blazon must be handled and treated responsibly within broadly defined display etiquette guidelines. These guidelines are exactly that, so they never can override fundamental rights of the citizens such as their right to free speech/expression and their right to communicate their discontent to anyone they please through whatever responsible and peaceful means at their disposal.
Going by the operative words, which are “responsible” and “peaceful”, most people would no doubt agree that it is probably not very right to burn the national flag or to step/stamp/pee/defecate/jerk-off on it or do other sorts of nasty things to it as these acts are generally understood by most reasonable people to be wanton and disrespectful acts of desecration, not unsimilar to the very nasty smashing up of holy places of worship.
To fly a flag at half-mast is to denote grief and mourning and is a sign of respect for an important person who has died so doing that to register the people’s discontent/distress in this case is illogical, nonsensical and may also disrespectfully contravene the flag display etiquette.
As to knots, one has heard of tying a knot on a handkerchief, or even four knots, but has never heard of knotting any flag to date, so have no comment to make on this except to say that it may contravene the JG’s display etiquette.
To fly the flag inverted on the other hand, is an accepted gesture of distress (by the JG’s display etiquette and also by tradition) and it is also a generally understood gesture of protest by citizens to give voice to their hidden feelings and to communicate that distress/discontent openly.
And so one contends that it is the rakyat’s valid right to fly the JG upside-down if they so wish to do so, just as it is the valid right of other members of the rakyat to not fly the flag at all, or to fly it upright if they wish.
What may not be so right however, may be to fly the JG flag upright while pretending that all is well with the nation while your mind is shouting to you that it isn’t and instead how annoyed and unproud you really feel about the state of national affairs, the economy and the bad-taste-in-the-mouth from the sordid issues plaguing everyone like the horrendous Altantuya murder scandal, or the grotesquely “sanguine” tolerance of police brutality and related incidents of ABH, GBH and mysterious deaths of citizens held in police custody or the lack of a “free” and non-brown-nosing press or the total absence of judicial independence or etc. etc. etc……
Just wondering btw Haris….do you think it is real love for Malaysia that is causing such consternation on this seemingly justifiable suggested defiance, or is it just herd-mentality or debilitating fear that one may be flying in the face of all the authorities if one were to fly the JG upside-down?
Anyways….some interesting food for thought as always served up here on TPP, but after having deliberated, cogitated and digested a little (as taught to do by that nice 🙂 Lloyd Grossman) have decided that my JG (if I can find it that is) will be flying upside-down in support of this peaceful protest to show distress, discontent and non-hypocritical honesty and truth (as depicted btw by the seven white stripes and the blue rectangle of the Canton).
For some more info about display etiquette and what the JG really represents please click on this link: http://www.flags-flags-flags.org.uk/malaysian-flag.htm
WE SAY YEAH! 🙂
Alex
August 5, 2008
The Govt says inflation is 9%. Economic growth is about 4%. Even if we take them at their word, this means there is a 5% mismatch. Putting it crudely our output (aka our wages, earnings) increase by 4% but prices increase by 9%. We are going to become 5% out of pocket (poorer) this year and till dont know when.
Yang akan suffer most are the poor Malays, bumis and the Indians. And unless you are a crony, a Malay is still poor (despite all the free goodies).
So this is our 50th year anniversary gift from Badawi and the BN. Food on the table and a good roof over the head are what counts most : dulu, sekarang dan selamanya. Everything else is just trimmings and prunings.
So I can sympathise with the flag shown upside down. It is an expression of sadness. This is what theya re doing to our country.
4% growth? Yet this year’s development expenditure is over RM100 Billion. Where is all that money going to?
RM1 billion for Police walkie talkie system (contracted out to Israeli company operating out of Singapore).
RM100 million for defective Police helmets, batons and wrong type of boots.
RM23 Billion for double tracking (RM14.3 bill during Dr M’s time) including the SIL portion (Gemas to Seremban about 55km) at a whopping RM4.5 Billion.
About RM80 million to pump out water from the lake at the KL Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana) then pump the water back inside. No silt was removed because none was found (it is NOT a natural watercourse).
Billions are being wasted yet. Why pay RM2 for a screwdriver when you can burn our petrol money and pay RM200 per screwdriver? The problem is an RM2 screwdriver will not generate RM200 worth of economic growth.
Here is some maths. If economic growth is 4%, the RM2 screwdriver will generate 8 sen worth of growth. But we paid RM200 already. To recover the RM200 bloated price (aka ripoff crony contracts) will take RM200/0.08 = 25 years.
This means we are burning off 25 years of future generations livelihood today. This is just one example.
Harith, lets keep those upside down flags. At this pace, we may need to salvage the cloth to make undies and pajamas.
jjc
August 5, 2008
Harris,
The Malaysian flag is a symbol of our sovereignity as a nation and as such all malaysians should respect it. The Malaysian flag represents its people who are still strong and united to bring change. The Malaysian flag does not in any way represent the executive. The current condition of this nation is due solely to the executive. As such the Malaysian flag should never be allowed to be hung upside down. If you need a flag to hang upside down it should be UMNO/BN flag.
Mahendran
August 5, 2008
sir, while i have my upmost respect to you, this is one damn thing i can never agree on!
STOP INSULTING my nation!
http://www.bmahendran.com/?p=457
shaike
August 6, 2008
Most of you may disagree with Harris stand on this. But respect must be shown as he has his reason to take the stand same as you all have reasons to disagree.
MySecret62
August 6, 2008
My signature is at # 2781 of the petition
However the Malaysian Flag being shown upside down is downright offensive to me irrespective of what ever acceptable practice that you may say. The problem is with the present BN govt and not the nation. You wont have my signature on this one bro…
Helen Ang
August 6, 2008
Dear ttc,
You were wondering whether the consternation expressed is just herd mentality or a fear of flying the JG upside-down.
You and others refer to ‘Jalur Gemilang’. The national flag was not called JG in 1957, nor in 1963. For 40 years, the flag had no name.
JG was picked by Dr M in the late-1990s from a pool of names suggested. So that makes JG only a recently received idea.
Yet the M’sian mind is so used to being strictly conditioned by authority that within the short span of a decade, the JG monicker has become an inviolable mental straitjacket wrapping a Mahathirism.
What Haris has done is challenge; is respect for the country merely encapsulated by households flying the flag right side up on Aug 31?
Last Aug 23, I wrote on Namewee. http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/71508
In my article, I quoted the renowned Susan Sontag’s plea post-Sept 11, “But let’s not be stupid together”, and wrote, “Innocuous reporting on the sweet stuff and inoffensive political advertorials are swallowed because Malaysians prefer what pleases them – blind patriotism. Not what challenges – critical, responsible citizenship.
If we were a country willing to open our ears to voices like Sontag, we would be a country able to grant Namewee the privilege of offending.”
I have no issue with M’sians who think the act of inverting the flag is offensive, or believe it should not be done, or have reservations with Haris and People’s Parliamant on this matter.
What I have issue with is grandstanders who think their high-falutin’ posturing gives them a seat on the moral high horse to go ballistic against people who dare question the norms (or my own beef; popular icons like Marina Mahathir).
ttc: Back to your query on why “such consternation”? Some are genuine and I’m half expecting a Star editor friend (nope, don’t mean WCW or VK) to pen his outrage.
But as to the poseurs, the slip will show because their smug self-righteousness reveal an inherent self-contradiction discernible to the thinking reader.
ladyRP
August 6, 2008
i am a proud anak bangsa malaysia and will not take out my frustration with the present day government on a national symbol of pride which belongs to all anak bangsa malaysia
rajraman ANGEL
August 6, 2008
I will do anything including talking to the demon/LUCIFER/SATAN/666 if can unite and to be “ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA”
rajraman.Thats why i still dreaming in my nightmare to be Malaysian Putera.
Farida
August 7, 2008
Haris has made a symbolic gesture in this blog to raise our consciousness about the depth of depravity in our society.
If people are more outraged with the use of our flag to signal the nation is in great distress than with the terrible happenings in our society, then what hope have we for our nation since it takes so little to divide so many?
Ame
August 7, 2008
Later today, DSAI will appear in court as summoned by the A-G Chambers. If today, he gets charged in court for sodomy and detained, I will not celebrate the National’s Day. I mourn for the country’s failure to uphold truth and justice, for I like many do not believe the allegations to be true. There are too many obvious signs of BN’s attempt to stop DSAI from entering Parliament, out of personal interest, and not for the public’s interests.
There are too much at stake for BN to allow an open door for DSAI to take away the bottomless pit of wealth and power.
I pray that he will have strength to go through all these trials. I am sure that many nations know what is being conspired against this one man. There is no shame in admitting it. The country’s management has failed and is still failing.
We cannot allow this.
Half mast, upside down or a knot – is a sign of distress. Malaysians are in distress. I am in distress.
And I am not ashamed to show it.
mpv
August 7, 2008
salute bro haris,zorro,kickdefella!!flag upside down reflects the current situation of this country.everything has turned upside down!!
JJ
August 7, 2008
Dear Haris,
Sorry, but I disagree with displaying our national flag upside down. We need to separate the govt from our country. The flag is also a symbol of sovereignty. We can criticize our govt but we should never deface nor ridicule any of our national symbols. Eg. we should also not display our coat of arms upside down. There must be better way to protest than belittling our national symbols.
Cheers.
syazwan
August 8, 2008
do watever u want.. but let me clarify this. if i saw around my place this kind of upside down flag, i’ll kick the owner hard. and i’ll do all i can to make it in the right stand again. not becoz i am BN shit, but becoz i do love this country very much. i love my agong, i love the spirit shared among all malaysian.n i’ll risk my life for my country. u put upside down ur flag, u disgrace my flag,my country.call me uncivilised shit, i dont care.its not my country’s fault to have corrupt govt. it’s people fault to choose them. i prefer to put the blame on people of malaysia.. come,put ur upside down flag, u disgrace my flag bro. n i’ll do watever i can to make it right..
Thanks,
ttc
August 8, 2008
Helen, howdee 🙂
Minor correction on your first paragraph: I asked Haris whether it was real love for Malaysia, or herd-mentality or debilitating fear that was causing such consternation. You mentioned two out of the three and left one out, see?
As to the JG, being a pesky ignorant sort at times, I was not aware that it was named only recently as that (“Stripes of Glory”?) by that allegedly totalitarian fascist of a dictator, so thanks for telling me! Maybe I’ll just call it simply as “the Malaysian flag” from now on then.
Read your interesting Namewee article. Also liked Susan Sontag, and her easy-going straightforwardness, which was so unlike the verbal straightjackets one gets into from the usual cacophony, like that from that Camille Paglia for instance.
Got somewhat lost on the gist of your para 10 (possibly down to my low pesky IQ perhaps) but wholeheartedly support your personal beef with smug locals, especially those who sometimes go around trying to be so selflessly rich (and so non-iconic). And don’t mind me saying this, but you strike me as being a bit of a Malaysian Sontag yourself, Helen Ang.
On that last paragraph btw: yeah, it bothers me too, but you see I was born a self-righteous slip of a kit right from day one, so guess one’s gotta learn to live and let live with one’s Achilles heel (or heels in my case) which in my case happens to be (as you may have guessed) my very incurably 😦 pesky and sanctimoniously self-righteous self!
WE SAY YEAH! 🙂
AC_here
August 8, 2008
I too have a cause…. @ itrulydontgiveafuck.blogspot.com
Helen Ang
August 8, 2008
Dear ttc,
Since you caught on to the “smug locals” implied in my Paragraph 10, then I would think you have a high albeit ‘pesky’ IQ.
Happy to share beef with you. Very possibly a great many of us here are self-righteous but there are some who are pompous Pauls … nudge x2 & wink.
Farida said it best: “If people are more outraged with the use of our flag to signal the nation is in great distress than with the terrible happenings in our society …” I’m glad she put the upside down into perspective.
Khoja Nadim
August 8, 2008
Amboi hang ni. Bukan main lagi no!
Bila mengaku kononnya “Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia” atau tunjuk setiakawan “Bloggers United” bukan main cukup beradab dan tahu kut mana nak letak bendera.
La ni nampak jelaih hang punya true colour. Anak Bangsa Malaysia mai dari mana pulak bendera sendiri pun tak kenai.
Aku nak tanya hang. Kesetiaan hang pada negara ini ada had dan hari ka?
Kalau nak marah kat nyamuk, pi bakaq kelambu buat apa?
JJ
August 8, 2008
Dear Helen,
To put things in perspective. Every 5 years or so, the people get to vote in a government. It has been said that an informed vote is neutralised by an uninformed vote, to the extent that at one time, MM Lee wanted to equate one “senior” to be equal to four “junior” vote, reason being that the “seniors” have done more for the nation and thus should have more say. Be that as it may, once the election is over, we carry on with life. Leave the winning party to govern and we give it another evaluation after 5 years or so.
Where our flag and other national symbols are concerned, our founding fathers have created them and they represents our sovereignty.
We cannot equate one to the other. Being outraged with the desecration of our flag is certainly more justified that being outraged at the terrible happenings carried out by our elected government. We can change the govt after 5 years, if we can convince enough people to follow suit (and 5 states did have a change of govt), but we cannot change our national flag.
Cheers.
Helen Ang
August 9, 2008
Hi JJ,
You said: “[O]nce the election is over, we carry on with life. Leave the winning party to govern and we give it another evaluation after 5 years or so.”
Could you pls tell me more about your views re the above & also I’m curious as to the interim, especially given our present volatile political situation in this — our own M’sia Boleh version — ‘interregnum’ because 5 years down the road is hard to predict.
Btw, Haris et all were noticed by Minister Rais Yatim who fears enforcement of the Sedition Act is not up to the mark and called for the creation of a mechanism to monitor bloggers.
http://web6.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=351477
“He said that rather than resorting to such an act [flagging distress], it would be better for them to express their dissatisfaction through the proper channels like writing articles and to speak out on whom they disliked, what was wrong and what was inappropriate.”
[Helen’s response: Ha-ha-ha, and hah! use “proper channels” — one of the Top 5 favourite words in the vocabulary of BN and MSM]
“Rather than bashing the flag, it’s better for them to take it out on the person concerned or the leaders that they don’t like,” he added.
[Helen’s response: Gosh, YAB Rais, can I have a read of your PhD thesis on ISA: “Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia”, since you’re invoking its cousin the Sedition Act].
JJ, if you think the topsy-turvy flag is ‘desecration’, it does seem that the Minister on the other hand may think it’s sedition. I think it’s a form of political protest, necessary, and let’s see where this heads.
Cheers.
JJ
August 9, 2008
Dear Helen,
My comment is on the use of national symbol as a means of protest. By all means, use the flag, but use it properly. I wrote elsewhere in this blog that when the Thais protested against their govt, they did it by using the flag to lead, not by flying it upside down as a protest. We can always criticize the govt, and disagree with its actions, but we have to separate the govt from the country and the symbols that represent it. If we allow this, where will this end? Someone may come out and burn the flag and say the nation had died and he is cremating the flag as a symbolic act.
The following was attributed to George Bernard Shaw:
Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because
you were born in it.
Note that he is talking about the country, not the govt.
Protest and criticize the govt by all means, but pls don’t cut the nose to spite the face.
Cheers.
Helen Ang
August 10, 2008
Dear JJ,
I have no quarrel with you holding the views you do, and even agree the inversion is irreverent (the burn & cremate justification you allude to is a cute tease)
However, Haris has chosen to do this, and I’ve elected to give him my moral support … like that lor. As anticipated, it’s not a popular move but then again, we’re not the grandstanding type.
Cheers.
JJ
August 10, 2008
Dear Helen,
So be it. I do feel we must separate country from government. Once I cannot find it in myself to show allegiance to my country, I should really migrate.
I read in other blogs that reason for using the inverted flag is akin to ships in distress seeking help by flying their flag upside down. However, as a country in protest against the govt, we are really not seeking anyone’s help from outside the country to topple our govt surely. Therefore, the use of this symbol is probably not appropriate.
However, if someone wants to criticize our ruling BN by flying the dacing upside down, That would probably be more appropriate. It will be an indication that the dacing which is often used as a symbol of equality does not really apply to the BN and so perhaps, their dacing should be inverted, or maybe tilted.
Cheers.
ttc
August 11, 2008
Helen, howdee again 🙂
Am relieved that you think my pesky grey matter’s not too low down.
Thanks but am not a beefeater any longer so should you want to share some tasty tuna instead, am happy to partake of that.
Have failed again to grasp your gist of para 2 (probably down to the earlier stated flaw of ignorance) so what/who are these pompous gits called Pauls btw?
WE SAY YEAH! 🙂
umabaran
August 11, 2008
count me in! my flag do fly terbalik!!!
pewarismelayu
August 13, 2008
bodoh! tak hormat bendera negara sendiri!
bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh ! bodoh !
malu saya ada rakyat malaysia macam ni