IT was quite a notable week in Malaysia with the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marked by a mix of positive developments and public controversy.
On the positive side, 31 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Malaysian government and the Chinese government. Among them was an agreement to extend the stay of the pandas in Malaysia for another 10 years.
On the downside, the visit also brought disruption, particularly in the Klang Valley, where road closures to accommodate Xi’s 50-vehicle convoy caused significant traffic congestion.
However, what truly stirred national attention this week was the publication of an AI-generated image of the Malaysian flag on the front page of Sin Chew Daily. The inaccurate flag, shown alongside the flag of the People’s Republic of China, led to public outrage.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, strongly condemned the mistake, calling it “unacceptable.”
In response, Sin Chew Daily immediately suspended the editors involved. Police later detained them for further investigation following the lodging of 13 police reports.
This is not the first time Malaysia has faced controversy over national flags. Flag mishaps have been a recurring problem, both with the Jalur Gemilang and other country flags.
Many will recall the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games incident, when the Indonesian flag was printed upside down in the official souvenir guidebook. The error triggered widespread anger in Indonesia, prompting Erick Thohir, then chairman of Indonesia’s Olympic Committee, to accuse the organisers of negligence.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for an apology but advised citizens not to overreact. On August 20, 2017, the hashtag #ShameOnYouMalaysia trended at the top of X (formerly Twitter).
Then-youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin met with his Indonesian counterpart, Imam Nahrawi, to offer a personal apology and promised that the guidebooks would be corrected and reprinted.
Though the issue was eventually resolved diplomatically, an Indonesian hacker group known as ExtremeCrew retaliated by hacking and defacing several Malaysian websites, displaying the message “Bendera Negaraku Bukanlah Mainan” (Our national flag is not a toy).
Another incident that is still fresh in mind took place during the World Tour Finals on December 11, 2024, when national independent badminton player Lee Zii Jia wore a jersey bearing the Malaysian flag upside down.
His sponsor, Victor Malaysia, publicly apologised for the mistake, emphasising their respect for the national symbols.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh accepted the explanation and urged athletes to be more vigilant. Team LZJ also expressed gratitude for the clarification and committed to preventing future errors.
These incidents underscore the significance of national symbols and how even seemingly minor mistakes can carry serious repercussions.
They also emphasise the necessity for meticulous planning and attention to detail, especially during high-profile events involving international partners
Those accountable for the recent incorrect publication of the AI-generated national flag should face consequences, as there is no justification for mishandling the representation of our beautiful national flag.
While forgiveness may be warranted, it is essential for the authorities to ensure that a lesson is learned to prevent a recurrence.
It is up to the authorities to determine the appropriate punishment, but action must be taken.
These incidents should serve as a reminder for everyone to exercise greater caution in the future when it comes to displaying our national flag, which symbolises our pride, irrespective of race or religion. – April 20, 2025
T. Vignesh is an executive editor at Scoop