Flag gaffe: After Sin Chew, Kwong Wah under investigation too
Published: Apr 16, 2025 8:49 PM
Updated: 11:48 PM
Summary
- Authorities have begun investigating Kwong Wah Yit Poh over a Facebook post showing a Malaysian flag without the crescent moon, after a similar case against Sin Chew Daily.
- The Home Ministry and MCMC are probing the case and warn against misrepresenting national symbols.
- Malaysiakini finds the crescent was obscured by headline text, and the post has since been taken down.
Authorities have launched a probe into the Chinese-language daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh, after announcing a similar investigation against Sin Chew Daily.
This is over Kwong Wah Yit Poh’s Facebook post showing the front page of its evening edition yesterday featuring the Jalur Gemilang without its iconic crescent moon.
“The offence has the same impact (as Sin Chew’s offence). There can be no compromise, and it will be investigated under legal provisions on the new media.
“Therefore, the Home Ministry is issuing a stern warning against any party attempting to belittle the Jalur Gemilang, whether intentional or not, and whether in print, electronic, or social media.
“The Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of sovereignty, unity, and national identity, which must be respected and upheld by all parties,” the Home Ministry said in a Facebook post.
Separately, the MCMC said it has summoned Kwong Wah for an investigation under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“The MCMC views this seriously and will cooperate with the Home Ministry and the police in conducting investigations on the issue, if this is needed and related,” it said.
READ MORE: Fact-check: Did another newspaper also botch Jalur Gemilang?
Malaysiakini’s checks found that the crescent moon was present in the original image used by Kwong Wah, but has become obscured by text for a headline. The offending post has since been removed.
Malaysiakini has contacted Kwong Wah for comment regarding the issue.
Flag gaffe
Yesterday, Sin Chew carried a front-page illustration of a jong bearing the Malaysian and China flags to coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country.
Kwong Wah published a Facebook post featuring the front page of its upcoming edition, which included a photo of a shopping mall’s electronic billboard displaying the flags of Malaysia and China.
In both cases, the crescent moon was not visible on the Malaysian flag.
Sin Chew has since apologised and blamed the mistake on a “technical error”. It has also corrected the illustration in the digital edition of the copy and republished the print corrected version in today’s print edition.
It is also taking disciplinary action against its staff.
Earlier today, the Home Ministry and the police announced investigations against Sin Chew under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
This is despite calls from civil society groups to avoid using a heavy-handed approach in holding the newspaper accountable for the mistake.
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kt remarks:
I've a suspicious mind - could be that there's "something" far more important and these media mistakes are being used to distract