M'sia Guan Gong Cultural Association apologises for China flags waved in Perak event
A video showing people waving China flags during a 24 October procession in Teluk Intan, Perak, sparked online uproar. The event organiser has since apologised, explaining that the flags were held by a delegation from China attending the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival and clarifying that this was not part of the planned programme.
PERAK, MALAYSIA: A video depicting a group of people waving China flags during a procession outside Menara Condong, Teluk Intan, Perak, has caused an uproar on the internet. Uploaded on Thursday (24 October) by the TikTok account @sadiqsegara, the video shows the group waving several Chinese national flags while chanting "Heng, Ong, Huat!"—a Hokkien phrase meaning "Prosperous, Lucky, Rich!" The caption read: "suddenly felt like in China." A subsequent video from the same account also showcased a lion troupe and a dragon dance accompanying the procession. Although the original video of people waving the Chinese flags has since been deleted, it has been widely shared by other netizens.
Opposition Politician Criticises Incident, Calling China Flag Display "Overboard"
Opposition politician Mohd Hafez Sabri from The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) expressed his concern over the video, criticising the behaviour as "overboard." He questioned, "Why are they so excited to raise the flag of other countries while in our homeland? What kind of ceremony is this?" The Deputy Head of PAS Youth further highlighted that under the National Emblem (Control of Display) Act 1949 (Act 193), Section 3 states that no person shall display any national emblem, including the flag of a foreign country, in a public place or school.Organiser Clarifies Chinese Flags Were Waved by Visiting Delegation at International Guan Gong Festival
In response to the incident, Soon Boon Hua, chairman of the Guan Gong Cultural Association, issued an apology. He clarified that the Chinese flags were waved by a delegation from China who participated in the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival.“This was never part of the programme,” he said.
He explained that the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival has been held for many years, taking place in various states from Johor to Kedah, with Perak being one of the involved locations. He assured that the organisers typically raise the Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang, as a symbol of patriotism during celebrations in different states. "The procession and celebration in Teluk Intan on 24 October was no exception," he added.“As the organiser, I apologise for the incident and will look into how we can improve this programme.”
