Practical purpose: Penang’s LRT service is expected to connect the island’s 1.8 million residents to the million others on the mainland and vice-versa, as seen in the artist impression of its Mutiara Line project. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

IT is understandable for elected representatives to ask state and federal governments for projects that can bring high impact value for their constituents.

However, that does not mean these lawmakers can simply ask and expect these requests to be met, especially if these infrastructure projects are hugely costly.

In recent weeks, two proposals have grabbed headlines: Perlis Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli calling for the setting up of an airport in Chuping, Padang Besar, by 2040; and Langkawi MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah asking for a light rail transit (LRT) system on the island.

Both ideas may sound impressive at first glance – symbols of ambition and development – but a deeper look reveals a troubling disconnect from economic realities and public interest.

Let’s start with Perlis. To be fair, the MB proposed the airport to be ready only in 16 years’ time.

He was not asking for one in the immediate future.

The facility is aimed at serving tourists and travellers from Thailand as the state believes it has to accommodate future air needs as well as boost investor confidence, the Mentri Besar claimed.

But Perlis is Malaysia’s smallest state by both area and population – it is home to just over 250,000 people, although the size of the population may increase within a decade.

The reality is that Perlis is only an hour’s drive from the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar.

Building a new airport in this context is, at best, redundant. At worst, it’s a gross misallocation of public resources.

Airports require long-term financial commitments, including sustained operational funding for costs such as security, maintenance, staffing, and environmental management.

Unless there is compelling evidence of unmet demand for air travel – be it from tourism, business, or cargo – building an airport in Perlis is akin to building a stadium in a town without a team, as one report said.

It would help if the PAS lawmaker could justify the proposal with compelling facts and figures.

Then there’s Langkawi. The Bersatu MP’s proposal for an LRT system might sound practical, especially since the island’s traffic congestion is a pressing issue.

But let’s not forget: Langkawi is a small island with a population of under 100,000.

In 2023, Langkawi welcomed 2.82 million visitors and they certainly used the roads.

Langkawi remains a tourist destination, not a metropolitan hub.

What it needs is smarter, sustainable mobility – not a billion-ringgit rail system that will see more empty carriages than actual commuters.

In contrast, the population of Penang is about 1.8 million with a huge number living on the island.

About 800,000 people live in the urban areas of George Town alone and the broader Greater Penang metropolitan area – which includes southern Kedah and northern Perak – has around 2.6 million residents, according to reports.

The Mutiara LRT, a 24-station light rail transit system, will be coming up in Penang with a 29.5km line that will connect George Town city centre with its southern suburbs of Jelutong, Gelugor, and Bayan Lepas and eventually with a link towards Seberang Prai across the Penang Strait.

According to reports, the estimated cost is capped at about RM16bil to RM17bil as of July 2025, mostly from market conditions such as land acquisitions, since 2016.

To put it simply, Langkawi does not have the number of passengers to justify the building of an LRT. Maybe a city tram but certainly not an LRT line.

Effective public transportation must be tailored to actual needs.

Langkawi deserves improved bus routes, more frequent ferry services, and ecofriendly shuttle systems that would provide far greater returns on investment.

LRT systems, however, are necessary only in dense urban environments with high daily ridership.

Langkawi, with its sprawling resorts and modest resident population, simply does not fit that bill.

Again, the Langkawi MP was speaking with no data-driven details to back his idea.

He may have appealed to his voters but to many Malaysians, it sounded like he did not do his homework. Did he do feasibility studies and look at the return on investments (even granted that most LRT systems around the world take a long time to recoup the initial investment, if ever)?

The most important fact, though, is this: LRT systems are meant for cities with large populations to reduce road congestion.

It is acceptable for our lawmakers to have vision but we also need leadership that is grounded in data, sensitive to local needs, and committed to spending public money responsibly.

Vision is important but it must be matched with pragmatism.

There is little point in having airports which are empty as no airline wants to fly there because the volume is too small, or empty LRT stations because there is insufficient ridership.

The Kedah government, meanwhile, has been pushing for an international airport in Kulim although the Penang International Airport is merely an hour away by road.

The state PAS government hasn’t been able to convince many people that an airport in Kulim will complement the Penang airport. Having an airport in Ipoh isn’t going to excite anyone either.

As the Free Malaysia Today news portal said, with one each in Kulim, Penang and Ipoh, it would mean three airports over a distance of less than 150km.

If there is any airport that deserves an immediate upgrade, it is the Tawau Airport in Sabah, which is bursting at its seams.

In 2024, it ranked as the eighth busiest in Malaysia, handling close to over two million passengers, including many tourists from China who use the airport to travel to nearby Semporna.

It is good to hear that the Transport Ministry has begun plans to upgrade the airport.

Semporna, the gateway to the Mabul and Sipadan islands, needs a massive cleanup as it is embarrassingly dirty, with almost zero decent facilities, including clean toilets at the pier – but that’s another story.

With Visit Malaysia 2026 taking off soon, let’s focus on projects that need immediate attention instead of dreaming of grandiose projects such as airports. No runaway dreams, please.

The woman who attempted to attack the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, on the grandstand during the state-level National Day parade last week being remanded at a police station in Ipoh. — Bernama

AS a trainee reporter at the news desk of The Star’s Penang bureau, I was expected to pick up the requirements of the trade in every section, with the first three beats being the courts, hospitals, and police stations.

I had to learn basic legal reporting, beginning with the Magistrate’s Courts before working my way up to the higher courts.

I had to persuade the prose-cuting officers to let me look at the piles of charge sheets, and be able to correctly use terms like defen-dants, prosecutors, counsel (never counsels when referring to lawyers, the editor would bellow), remand, summoned, detained, arrested, injunction, sentences, and appeals, among others.

At the police stations, there were daily briefings, usually by the officer in charge of the police district (OCPD), on the interesting crime cases of the day. But the real excitement was when actual crime broke out, especially robberies, and we could rush to crime scenes.

Now this is where all of us were taught the sacred rule: Our news reports must not mention the race of perpetrators and victims, especially in rape and murder cases, to avoid fanning racial tensions.

The mainstream media has always done this and will continue to do it to prevent racial profiling and maintain social harmony in a multiracial society.

Most mainstream Malaysian media outlets follow these editorial guidelines that advise against including race unless it is specifically relevant to the context of the story.

In investigation reports filed by the police constables, the details such as name, age, address, and race of the suspects are mentioned for investigation purposes but never for publication.

But social media has ignored all these rules. It has become common to see police reports with these details going viral.

Worse, assumptions are made and rumours pushed on online platforms to whip up racial tensions.

When race is mentioned in crime stories, it could reinforce negative stereotypes about certain communities, lead to misinformed generalisations, and stir public resentment or distrust between races.

It is highly regrettable then that Perak PAS assemblyman Hafez Sabri would not even apologise like a true gentleman with genuine remorse after having wrongly claimed on his Facebook page that a Chinese woman had lunged at His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah during a National Day celebration in Perak.

The woman, later revealed to be Malay, is said to have a history of psychiatric treatment and drug- related cases, and had reportedly tried to hug HRH on stage but was immediately restrained by security officers.

In his clarification, the Manjoi assemblyman insisted he was acting out of pure love for the Sultan when he rushed to Facebook with the “breach of security” alert.

According to news reports, he claimed his “only mistake” was trusting an “early source” who fingered the wrong ethnicity. He insisted that he corrected the error within minutes.

But anyone who read his lengthy statement could only conclude he was still using the blame game narrative, with fingers pointed at “irresponsible, malicious actors and people with bad intentions”.

His “apology” lacked remorse and gave the impression that he was more interested in getting out of the tight spot caused by his huge blunder, and he offered no explanation for why he had to mention race. Worse, it was an admission that he jumped on rumours and gave no serious thought to his words, which could inflame racial tensions.

This PAS state lawmaker has not learned from the mistake of Kepala Batas PAS MP Siti Mastura Muhammad, who lost a defama-tion case brought by DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Teresa Kok. She had made claims linking them to the late Com-munist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.

The High Court, which ordered Siti Mastura to pay hefty damages to each of the three for her remarks during a 2023 speech in Kemaman, Terengganu, which was circulated on social media, described her claims as defamatory, baseless, and reckless.

Although the general elections is still two years away, Malaysians would have noticed the huge number of racial postings on social media.

Whether the resentment is manufactured or otherwise, there are many who have blatantly ignored the rules on race, religion, and royalty with their racist postings.

As lawmakers, we would expect them to be more responsible about their statements and actions. Instead, they have opted to fan racial elements – even if it is concerted lies or just hearsay – to win the support of their community while trying to portray themselves as religious personalities.

The Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission must be commended for its swift action. It has reportedly hauled up Hafez, who is also the PAS Youth deputy chief, and three others.

The three had their statements recorded for “false and racially charged” social postings over the incident.

Surely these PAS leaders do not expect the majority of Malaysians to vote them into power, although they like to think they are the government in waiting.

That brings us to the next lesson: We now have influencers who think that everyone can be a journalist.

Many do not realise that it is a widely followed practice not to name suspects until they are formally charged in courts.

There are no laws governing this, and in fact the media has named suspects occasionally, especially well-known personalities, for the sake of public interest, but those arrested need not necessarily be the culprits – that’s why they are called suspects.

However, there are strict laws when it comes to the young. It is legally prohibited to name minors implicated in crimes. It’s not because the media and government want to protect them or their elders, as many ignorant netizens implied in the Zara Qairina Mahathir case.

Kita semua anak Malaysia: Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities in building Malaya and now Malaysia. There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese, and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

LET us all hold our heads high today. It is our National Day and this country belongs to all of us – not just to politicians who tell us what to do, and worse, try to divide the people of Malaysia,

Without us, the ordinary people, these bad actors wouldn’t even be elected.

So on this special day, let us take pride in our nation’s journey.

Let’s ignore the rising use of race and religion as political tools that threaten to undermine the harmony that ordinary Malaysians have worked so hard to build over decades.

Because amid the noise and negativity, one truth shines through: the Malaysian spirit remains strong – resilient, generous, patient, and full of heart.

While a minority may seek to divide us, millions of Malaysians continue to live in unity every single day.

The doctors and nurses in our hospitals do their best to heal us without caring in the least about the colour of their patients’ skins.

Let’s not forget the soldiers, the policemen, and firemen who ensure our safety every day.

Malaysians in uniforms have sacrificed their lives for the country. Many did not hold high ranks when fighting the insurgents in the jungles. Who are these divisive politicians and cybertroopers to insinuate that they were not loyal to Malaysia?

These were the “Type C” (as the Chinese are often referred to online now) who had courage, compassion, and charisma, and were committed to fighting for our country.

Then there are the teachers who work hard to ensure our children get the best education. The majority are Malay and they even teach in vernacular schools, and they deserve our appreciation. They are not the best paid of civil servants and certainly they deserve better.

When we achieved independence in 1957, it was the Malays, with their magnanimity, who accepted the immigrant races to be citizens as our forefathers worked out the social contract. The Malays joined the civil service to administer the country, especially in education and security, and the Chinese played a huge part in the economy to build up the coffers of a young country, which many said at the time did not have a chance of making it.

The early Indians built infrastructure, established rubber estates, built roads, and managed railways and ports.

These are the real heroes of Malaya and now Malaysia; not dim-witted politicians who whip up emotions and anger.

Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities by building a nation that is inclusive, just, and united.

Malaysians work together, study together, pray alongside one another, and celebrate each other’s festivals with genuine joy.

The real Malaysia lives not in the speeches of politicians, but in the small, daily acts of mutual respect and shared humanity that take place in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities across the nation.

This is the real Malaysia that we must celebrate and protect. Let us all remind ourselves of these simple acts that we often take for granted.

Do not let selfish politicians who use race and religion to divide rob us of today’s special Merdeka celebrations.

This year, as we commemorate 68 years of independence, it is unfortunate that some political bullies have stolen our joy. Some of us have lost the enthusiasm to put up the national flag.

But National Day must be about more than just waving flags and singing patriotic songs. We need to reflect deeply on the values that have held us together – and the values we must now reaffirm if we want to move forward as a mature and united nation.

Tolerance, forgiveness, and moderation must be at the heart of our national conversation. Kita semua anak Malaysia.

Let us not allow the actions of a few to define the spirit of the many. Let us champion stories of kindness, courage, and togetherness.

This is our country, and as my journalist friend Leslie Lau put it: “There’s more to life than arguing over who’s right or whether the government is unfair or who’s racist or not.

“But really, I love this country, warts and all, and appreciate the diversity, sights, sounds, and all. So maybe in this independence month, could we just stop arguing for one second and just enjoy our lives lah.’’

That means teaching our children that being Malaysian is a blessing – and with that blessing comes a responsibility to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better people.

Let’s accept what Malaysia is about, and that includes its imperfections, and the many differences.

It means embracing the differences, even when we don’t fully understand them, and accepting the facts, even when we whine and grumble.

In a country as diverse as ours, tolerance is the glue that binds us – it is what allows us to live together, worship freely, and celebrate our differences without fear or prejudice.

We have always forgiven and that, too, is vital. Over the years, our nation has faced moments of tension and missteps.

Forgiveness means choosing healing over hatred. It allows us to move forward as a united people willing to learn, grow, and reconcile.

Perhaps most importantly, we must reject voices that seek to provoke and divide, and instead elevate those who advocate for reason, balance, and unity.

There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. Never forget this.

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan, Malaysia.

Strength in diversity: There are hundreds of thousands of flags that have been correctly put up across the country, including in Chinese new villages like the Bukit Merah New Village in Ipoh and tourist spots like the Kuala Lumpur Library (below). — RONNIE CHIN/FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

MALAYSIA certainly deserves better as we celebrate 68 years of independence next week.

We remain stuck in the toxic politics of race and religion, with some politicians unable or unwilling to let go of these addictions.

Over the past one month, we have watched sadly deliberate provocations that keep race and religion at the heart of all political discourse.

It is not even subtle but an open incitement mainly aimed at winning the votes of the predominantly Malay audience.

For decades, political actors have skilfully used identity to entrench themselves in power, distract from governance failures, and stir emotional loyalty.

Today, the stakes are higher than ever because the Prime Minister leads a multiracial party, PKR, with the three main races represented in the top echelon. Unfortunately, though, it does not command the majority of seats in Parliament.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is stuck in a difficult position of having to deal with partners in the unity government, which includes former opponents, some of whom have now started to test his leadership by taking shots at his government.

There is a general election in two years and these parties wish to remain relevant in the eyes of their members and voters.

There are Umno Youth leaders who have also crossed the red line with their constant intimidating postures and remarks.

The minority races, especially the Chinese and Indians, find these racial actions disturbing.

The series of incitements over upside down Jalur Gemilang in some shops, unfortunately owned by small-time Chinese traders, have marred this year’s celebrations.

Instead of advising these businessmen to put right the national flags, these people chose to confront them aggressively and angrily, to put up videos inviting racist comments, to lodge police reports, and stage protests.

This is not the first time that the Jalur Gemilang has been wrongly put up but this is probably the first time that we’re seeing such bullying tactics.

It is commendable that the Attorney General’s Chambers has warned Malaysians against vigilantism in cases involving the improper display of the Jalur Gemilang, amid the furore over Umno Youth’s protest in Kepala Batas, Penang, over the matter.

The AGC said vigilantism could include raiding premises, spreading personal details, or making unfounded accusations on social media.

The AGC also warned the public against provoking or issuing threats against the individuals or organisations concerned.

There are hundreds of thousands of flags that have been correctly put up across the country, including in Chinese new villages, Chinese associations, and Chinese vernacular schools, yet these political thugs chose to pick on a few wrong ones and amplify it to become an explosive issue.

It that were not enough, last week, we read of a Bersatu leader posting a “delayed” congratulatory post on the appointment of Comm Datuk M. Kumar as the director of Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department, saying “this shows that Malaysia has started to embrace the Malaysian Malaysia concept’’.

The politician also cited the promotion of Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng as a lieutenant general in the armed forces.

He claimed if the concept continued to be accepted by the government, Malaysia could soon have its first non-bumiputra Chief Justice, Armed Forces Chief and Inspector General of Police.

Anwar has rightly rebutted that, pointing out that the majority of high-ranking police officers are Malays, including the IGP, deputy IGP, and other directors of various departments.

Comm Kumar, who has an excellent track record, is just the CID chief and it is bewildering that he has been targeted.

How can we even encourage non-Malays to join the armed forces and police if they perceive that they have few chances of being promoted to a senior post?

In June, a PAS grassroots leader also made a racist statement about the appointment of the three-star lieutenant general in a social media post, warning of “the political rise of the nation’s largest minority group”.

He also wrote in his Facebook posting of a hypothetical news story of Malaysia welcoming its first ethnic Chinese PM.

Both these small-time leaders have the same script and narrative, aimed at insinuating that the PM, the head of a multi-racial party, is compromising with the other races.

Rather than fostering unity in a multiracial nation, identity politics has devolved into a toxic tool for populism.

Every minor issue – from music festivals to retail products – is now open to being framed as an attack on faith or culture.

What should be policy debates are routinely hijacked by identity-driven outrage. The real consequence? A shrinking space for reason and a deepening divide in our society.

Unfortunately, this reliance on racial and religious narratives comes at a high cost.

First, it undermines economic development. Malaysia continues to lag in innovation, regional competitiveness, and talent retention.

A system that prioritises ethnic patronage over meritocracy is simply unsustainable in a globalised world. This is 2025 and we are going to welcome 2026 in a few months but we are still stuck in pre-1957.

Second, it paralyses governance. While the rakyat struggle with rising living costs, declining education standards, and stagnant wages, political attention is disproportionately consumed by manufactured controversies over identity.

Something is hopelessly wrong when PAS’ Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim was more interested in questioning the PM on his choice of batik when Anwar was presenting the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in Parliament.

The MP posted a message on his Facebook page asking why Anwar chose to wear a batik shirt with an Indonesian design instead of Malaysian batik.

Then, with egg on his face, he had to apologise when it was pointed out by batik entrepreneurs that Anwar had indeed worn local batik attire.

We would have expected the PAS MP to post questions related to the 13MP as well as to make detailed proposals.

Instead, he was more interested in the PM’s shirt. Even if Anwar chose to wear something from Indonesia, should it be an issue?

Then there was PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, the Marang MP, who implied that Kuala Lumpur’s problems were due to DAP and the unity government, reciting a poem in Malay containing the line: “KL is problematic due to DAP, Pakatan Harapan, and friends.’’

It is most unfortunate that taking simple, lazy political pot shots rather than pushing serious proposals backed with data has become a habit of these incompetent politicians.

Third, and perhaps most worrying, this reliance on racial and religious narratives erodes trust.

The constant emphasis on ethnic and religious differences chips away at the social fabric.

Interethnic solidarity – a strength Malaysia once celebrated – is being replaced with suspicion and withdrawal.

Malaysians are not asking for too much. We just want leaders who prioritise shared progress over communal fear, and a national conversation that values evidence over emotion, ideas over identity.

We need to discard the old narratives and old politicians. But our voices need to be louder so they can be heard. Do not be afraid of political bullies and racist politicians.

Racial division may still win elections, at least in the short term, but we must end it.

If Malaysia is to truly move forward, we must retire the politics of identity as a crutch for power.

Let race and religion be part of our Malaysian identity – but as something that unites us because of common values, not weapons in our politics.

MALAYSIANS have read a lot about the many bullies in our country, mostly in schools, hostels, and workplaces, as well as online.

But what is less talked about are the political bullies and their disturbing posturing.

If there is a ranking, these bullies, who shamelessly call themselves Yang Berhormat, must be the worst.

We expect elected representatives to bring people together, to mediate disputes, advise those who erred and be charitable.

We would like them to be exemplary role models to younger citizens but many fail miserably.

Instead, they become agitators, issue warnings, are confrontational and intimidating, and, most pathetically, turn into racists as they pick and choose their targets.

All bullies have some common traits: They target people they perceive as weaker, they love to dominate, and feel a need to control others to boost their own self-worth or mask insecurity.

Bullies often target individuals who are different – by race, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.

Needless to say, they have low empathy and probably suffer from some form of psychological problem.

If we dig deeper, it wouldn’t be surprising to learn they had been victims of bullying themselves or suffer from a chronic inferiority complex.

They have difficulty understanding or caring about how others feel; such emotional detachment makes it easier for them to harm others without remorse.

As political leaders, they probably have a dismal record on ideas and achievements, thus bullying gives them a temporary sense of superiority or confidence.

To conceal their poor performance, bullies often act out to impress peers or climb the social ladder.

They may thrive on the reactions they get from an audience, especially from comments sections online.

They really don’t deserve space in the media but social media news portals, hungry for eyeballs, have given these losers generous space to shout in.

These media portals do not even bother to moderate their comments section – by right, those who post nasty, racist remarks should be hauled up to face sedition charges.

Hot political issue: People putting up the Jalur Gemilang in their neighbourhood. Unfortunately, there may be Malaysians who are afraid to put up the national flag this year in case they make any mistakes and do it wrongly. — The Star

In Malaysia, playing the racial and religious cards is the fastest way to become communal heroes.

Those who do so seem to be able to attract many admirers with their aggression and impulsiveness.

They fan a racial angle with their inflammatory statements, postures, and gestures, with warnings of protests, and of course, keep the police busy with their many reports.

In the latest case, this recalcitrant politician has even given the authorities an ultimatum and a deadline to act by.

There must be no space for political bullies with their prejudices and intolerances. We shouldn’t keep silent and let such cowardly behaviour continue.

Many of us are working towards a kinder, progressive, and moderate Malaysia.

How can we recite the tenets of the Rukun Negara when political bullies blatantly disregard “achieving and fostering unity in society’’ and have no “courtesy and morality” as enshrined in the nation’s principles?

As we prepare to celebrate National Day in two weeks, there should be an air of celebration with Malaysians coming together, with reminders that we are one as Malaysians.

In my neighbourhood, I have been taken aback that my household is the only one that has hoisted the Jalur Gemilang and the Selangor flag.

The other houses are devoid of flags for reasons I cannot comprehend. Have my neighbours lost their enthusiasm – or are they afraid of putting them up wrongly?

It will be sad if we have come to a point where Malaysians – especially shopkeepers – choose not to fly the Jalur Gemilang out of fear lest they make a mistake and that mistake becomes a hot political issue.

I hope they won’t emulate my friend, analyst and columnist Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, who has said he will not fly the national flag in his home and on his car this year in case of potential sabotage. He does not want it made into a political tool to incite hatred.

“We are supposed to love our flag with pride but the current reactions to those who made mistakes regarding the flag have become a political tool to attack others and incite hatred.”

Flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down is a serious matter, and getting the flag wrong, with missing stripes or points on the crescent are also offensive errors, but they are not unforgivable.

Many of these angry politicians barely squeak when it comes to more serious wrongdoings like corruption.

Why can’t these politicians just walk to these shops or places of worship and just adjust the flags correctly and explain to the people how they went wrong?

Instead, the politicians choose to be arrogant bullies in their videos to prove to their audiences that they have to teach these purported “disloyal Malaysians” a lesson.

The offenders they pick on always happen to be Chinese, and as a minority race, they become perfect targets for bullies.

Yet these self-proclaimed communal heroes quickly hide their tailcoats and do a Houdini disappearing act when their own political party members make the same error.

Can we expect the party members of these YBs to lodge police reports against their own and to insist that an apology is not sufficient?

There is also a need for the police to be seen to be fair or not react because of pressure from certain politicians. We expect our men and women in blue to be fair.

In May, two Sin Chew Daily editors found themselves handcuffed after the paper printed an incorrect illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on the cover, with the police having to call up 42 witnesses for the silly mistake.

Surely the police did not need to handcuff them, giving the perception of an overreaction.

The same month, it was reported that Terengganu PAS had to say sorry for mistakes in the national flag that was part of a logo designed for a gathering.

Around the same time, there was another blunder in an official document which contained an inaccurate depiction of the Jalur Gemilang, resulting in several senior officers of the Education Ministry’s examination board being transferred.

Last week, the same illustration gaffe was made on social media by Terengganu Umno Youth and certainly the apology by its chairman, Tengku Haphiz Tengku Putera, is sufficient.

A viral image showing the Malaysian flag being flown upside down at a district police headquarters also resurfaced last week. The police had to explain that it was a 2016 incident and not a recent one.

The point is, even the police can make a mistake and why not, after all, the police constable responsible for raising the flag is also a human being who can err.

The national flag was, in fact, flown upside down at a National Day rehearsal in 2022 because there was an error in raising it, according to news reports.

There will be such mistakes made by Malaysians, regardless of their race or political affiliations. To err is human, to forgive is divine.

I would be more concerned with Malaysians who fly a tattered Jalur Gemilang.

My friend Anas Zubedy wrote that these errors “are not always acts of disrespect – but are often human error.

“When such incidents occur, especially involving our beloved Jalur Gemilang, our response matters.

“Do we react with anger and suspicion, or do we pause, reflect, and choose to respond with understanding and wisdom?

“This is where we must return to the very spirit of the four colours of the flag.

“Let blue guide us to unity and calm. Let white remind us to be sincere and honest in our assessment. Let red give us courage to correct with dignity, not to shame. And let yellow inspire us to act with grace and respect, as our royal traditions teach.’’

To these bully politicians and those who habitually make racist remarks, my question is: Do you even make it a point to put up the Jalur Gemilang in your homes every year?

Certainly, Malaysia and Malaysians deserve better quality leaders. These bully politicians don’t deserve our votes in the next elections.