National laureate Datuk A. Samad Said’s participation in an event where the Sang Saka Malaya flag was flown has been described as indecent and shameful by Putrajaya.
“Samad’s involvement is incredibly embarrassing and it’s improper since he carries the title of a laureate,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) in his speech at Universiti Malaya today.
“I don’t know what intention he has in flying the Sang Saka Malaya. It can’t be that someone who is so respected and who has produced many major works of literature would do something so shameful.
“It is not that he is uneducated. He is, and better than us,” said Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister.
The Sang Saka Malaya is a red-and-white flag with 12 yellow stars set in four columns and was reportedly proposed as Malaya’s national flag in the 1940s.
Muhyiddin said the display of the Sang Saka Malaya was politically-motivated.
“This was done by a group of people who are unhappy with the government. They will find fault with everything and there are reasons for their actions.”
The waving of the Sang Saka Malaya flag, which was captured on video, went viral on YouTube and so far three non-governmental organisations have lodged police reports on the incident.
Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIM), Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) and Gagasan Pendidikan Melayu Malaysia (Gagasan) lodged reports at the Sentul police station and urged police to take action against activists Hishamuddin Rais, Adam Adli and Samad.
The video also showed a commotion where a man was seen shouting, “that is the Malaysian flag”, pointing to the large Jalur Gemilang at Dataran Merdeka, after grabbing the Sang Saka Malaya flag off the group comprising Samad, Hishamuddin and Adam.
Previously, communications and multimedia minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that Samad could be stripped of his national laureate title following this incident.
Samad’s retort to this was that he “could not be bothered”.
The Education Ministry, through the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, bestowed the laureate award.
Samad was arrested for allegedly flying the Sang Saka Malaya flag on the eve of Merdeka celebrations at Dataran Merdeka.
Malay rights group Perkasa also challenged Samad to return the honorific back to the government to prove that he would not be bothered if it was stripped off him.
“I applaud Samad’s bravery, but he should return the national laureate title himself if he is sincere. Many people will criticise the government if it revokes the title,” Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said.
Samad was arrested early on Wednesday and released two hours later after having his statement recorded. He is being investigated under the Sedition Act. – September 6, 2013.
