Press statement by Teresa Kok, DAP National Organising Secretary and MP for Seputeh in Shah Alam on 19 September 2011
Muhyiddin should not harp on Manoharan’s statement on national flag as Manoharan has already retracted it and apologised for it.
I urge Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to quit harping on ADUN Kota Alam Shah Manoharan Malayalam’s remarks on the national flag as Manoharan has already retracted his remarks and apologised for it.
It is also pointless for him to try to smear DAP and Pakatan Rakyat’s name using this matter as we have never questioned the position of the Jalur Gemilang as our national flag or desired to change it in any manner. It is a complete non-issue to Pakatan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin would do better to focus his attention upon issues of greater importance and urgency such as the drafting of the two new laws to replace the Internal Security Act and the amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act and Police Act.
I advise Manoharan to be more careful and sensible when issuing statements, whether in person or through his social media, so as not to harm his image or Pakatan Rakyat’s. I also advise him to make clear a distinction between his personal opinions and Pakatan Rakyat’s stand when issuing statements so as not to misrepresent Pakatan Rakyat.
Teresa Kok
I think it is not enough for you just to advice Manoharan. Some form of displinary action should be given to him. It is like when UMNO rep gave some sexist comment on female and apologise. Would you just stop harping when he apologise? Don’t be hypocrite. Uniformnity should be applied by DAP to gain trust.
“And while we all want to be patriotic, there is a time and place for it. A Jalur Gemilang has no place in an area where there is much hostility towards Americans. Jalur Gemilang is our pride and joy, but from a distance, the flag on one’s chest says “please shoot here” due to its similarity with the US’ Stars & Stripes.” – Terence Fernandez, Down2Earth: Lessons not learnt, The Malay Mail, September 8th 2011
Is Manoharan a Muslim fundamentalist with strong anti-American sentiment? Maybe not, but check out Utusan’s headlines, indicating that they have pro-American sentiment.
Well, tit for tat… sometimes you harp on an issue, sometimes they do. Political game by all parties.
What do you expect from a half past six and sell-by minister
The remarks were really unwarranted from a Malaysian more so a wakil rakyat. I think mano has dug his own grave. I will not for DAP or PKR again. I think Mano should consider moving to Kerala.
PPP changed its flag from having 6-pointed star to become 5-pointed star, because of the similarity between 6-pointed star and Star of David in use by Israel, infamous for its treatment of the Palestinians.
With the US now having reputation of practising double standards in supporting democracy as well as using its veto power many many times in the UN Security Council to support Israel, changing the Malaysian flag so that it does not look like the American flag from a distance is worth being considered.