KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign flags should not be flown in Malaysia without a good reason, says MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong.
Neow, commenting on an incident where Chinese flags were flown at an event in Teluk Intan, Perak, said the issue isn't about politics or race.
He questioned the motive behind flying Chinese flags in a public place.
"Who are the programme organisers? The Perak police chief had already said the gathering was illegal and without a permit.
"Bad enough that it's an illegal assembly but it also saw a gathering of foreigners waving the Chinese flag. Honestly, would any other nation allow this to take place in their country?," he said in a statement.
He was commenting on an event on Thursday organised by the Guan Gong Cultural Association of Malaysia, which saw Chinese flags being waved.
The association has since apologised for the incident, saying that those waving the Chinese flags were Chinese nationals.
Police have recorded statements from 17 Chinese nationals over the incident.
Meanwhile, Neo said if it was true that those waving the Chinese flags were not Malaysian, why then weren't the Jalur Gemilang spotted at the same event by the Malaysian organisers.
"This isn't about politics or race but sovereignty. It's about a handful of Malaysians who have yet to realise their responsibility to uphold the country's image and sovereignty," he said.
Neo said while he wasn't suggesting that foreign flags should never be flown, there should be a strong rationale.
"For example, at international sports events, foreign flags are expected to be flown as part of the participating countries' representation.
"Similarly, during significant events such as the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, we would naturally see the flags of both nations displayed together as a symbol of friendship," he said.
Neo also took issue with those who saw nothing wrong with the act as Malaysians had also displayed Palestinian flags in public.
He said Malaysians were flying the Palestinian flag out of solidarity with Palestinians, who were victims of atrocities committed by the Zionist regime.
"This is a global issue. Waving the Palestinian flags for the aforementioned reasons are vastly different from the actions of those waving foreign flags for no good reason," he said.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad had previously said there was no harm in foreign tourists waving the Chinese flags during the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival.
He said the waving of foreign flags should only be an issue if it were done by Malaysians.
Saarani also said Malaysians also flew the Jalur Gemilang overseas during events.