IPOH, Oct 25 — The Guan Gong Cultural Association of Malaysia has apologised to all Malaysians over an incident where members waved China flags during its International Guan Gong Cultural Festival in Teluk Intan last night.
Its chairman Soon Boon Hua said the act of waving the flag of another country was not included in the programme itinerary prepared by the organisers.
“As the party organising the event, we would like to apologise for the incident and will look into all aspects that need to be improved to ensure the success of the programme (in the future),” he said in a post on the group’s Facebook page today.
Soon said the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival has been celebrated annually for many years and has been held in several states from Johor to Penang, with Perak being one of the states involved.
He added that during each of these celebrations across different states, the organisers had always raised the Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang, as a symbol of patriotism, and the parade in Teluk Intan was no exception.
A video of a group waving China flags at the festival went viral on social media yesterday.
Police confirmed the parade at Dataran Menara Condong in Teluk Intan, which saw the participants waving China flags, was held without a permit.
Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said the parade, which involved a procession of decorated floats, took place from 8pm to 11.30pm yesterday, with about 400 spectators.
“Police have summoned the organisers to have their statements recorded and they will be asked to submit the names of all their foreign participants, believed to be from China, to assist in the investigation,” he said in a statement today.
Azizi said police received a report on the incident from a local man after midnight today, and the case is being investigated under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for holding a parade without a police permit and Section 3(1) of the National Emblems Act 1949 for displaying a foreign national emblem in a public place.
— Bernama
