PETALING JAYA: DAP has dissociated itself from a statement by state assemblyman M. Manoharan who continues to get flak over his remarks to change the Jalur Gemilang if the Pakatan Rakyat comes to power.
Calling the suggestion “stupid”, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman's statement did not reflect the stand of the party or the Opposition coalition.
“It is something completely stupid. He does not speak for DAP nor the Pakatan Rakyat.
“We have no plans to change it (the Jalur Gemilang),” he said.
Selangor executive councillor and state PKR leader Elizabeth Wong said Manoharan was entitled to his own opinions, but she disagreed with his statement.
“It is not the agenda of the Pakatan Rakyat to change the Malaysian flag.
“Our focus is on reforms outlined in our Buku Jingga,” she said.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad of PAS said it was not a priority for the Opposition to make any change to the national flag.
“It is not an issue at all. What we are focusing on is how to better manage the economy to benefit the rakyat,” he added.
On Friday, Manoharan was reported to have said the Jalur Gemilangshould be modified as its current design resembled Barisan Nasional's flag and did not reflect Malaysia.
He added that he had distributed DAP flags in his constituency on Malaysia Day as “he did not have the heart” to wave the national flag.
Manoharan later posted an apology on his Facebook account and took down his earlier posting.
Meanwhile, social media users have lambasted Manoharan for his unpatriotic remarks about changing the national flag.
Facebook user MatRasip Manap said Manoharan should not have uttered negative statements about the Malaysian flag.
“You shouldn't have done what you did. Fellow graduates of UM like me aren't proud of you,” he said.
Arasu Malaysia said as a lawyer and assemblyman, Manoharan should think before making such statements.
Another Facebook user Ili Liyana Mokhtar said his statement was uncalled for.
“Pick your battles wisely. It looks like you are running out of ideas. Shame on you,” she said.
Faizalharedz posted on his Twitter account that the DAP leader was sowing hatred to gain political mileage.
“It shows that he is politically immature.
“He should be proud to wave the national flag,” he said.
Post time 17-9-2011 11:45 PM
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