Flag gaffe: Umno group, Perkasa challenge don to renounce citizenship
Published: Apr 19, 2025 8:02 AM
Updated: 5:14 PM
Summary
- Umno Veterans’ Club and Perkasa have challenged academic Tajuddin Rasdi to renounce his citizenship over his comments defending Sin Chew Daily.
- Both groups label his remarks unpatriotic and accuse him of siding with those who insult national symbols.
- Tajuddin had criticised the harsh response to Sin Chew’s flag error, urging space for mistakes and self-correction.
The Umno Veterans’ Club and Perkasa have challenged academic Tajuddin Rasdi to renounce his citizenship after the latter expressed shame over the reaction to Sin Chew Daily’s misprinting of the Jalur Gemilang.
Umno Veterans’ Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub said Tajuddin’s remarks are unpatriotic, contrary to public sentiments condemning Sin Chew, as well as the king’s displeasure towards the Chinese-language daily.
“Veteran Umno regrets the professor’s statement in which he belittles his own country to defend those who insult the nation.
“If he is truly ashamed to be a citizen of this country, Malaysia’s doors are wide open for him to scram out of the country. Malaysia loses nothing in having one less ‘profesor kangkong’ (an academic of no substance) who has no identity and love for their own country.
“Umno Veteran challenges the professor to prove he is truly ashamed of this country by renouncing his citizenship and move to another country,” Mustapha (above) said in a statement last night.
Academic Tajuddin Rasdi
In a separate statement today, Perkasa information chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris questioned whether Tajuddin is “blind or daft” for defending those who are “kurang ajar” (uncouth) towards the country.
He echoed Mustapha’s statement that Tajuddin can leave the country and renounce his citizenship if he is ashamed of being a Malaysian.
“But, you must also remember that as long as you are a Malaysian citizen, you must respect and defend the sovereignty of Malaysia because Malaysia is an independent territory,” he said.
Heavy-handed measures
Yesterday, Tajuddin expressed concern and dismay over the investigations against Sin Chew that have led to the arrest of two of its editors, and called for further action to be taken against it.
Among those calling for action is Perkasa, which held a demonstration outside Sin Chew’s headquarters demanding that the editors be sacked or the newspaper’s license be suspended.
The backlash against Sin Chew followed the paper’s publication of an illustration of a jong on its front page on Tuesday, which carried the flags of Malaysia and China. This was in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.
However, the Malaysian flag was missing its crescent moon.
Tajuddin noted that despite the paper having issued a correction, apologised, suspended its editors, and committed to improving its editorial processes including those surrounding the use of artificial intelligence – calls demanding a “pound of flesh” continued to mount.
He added that Malaysians have failed to learn from several incidents, including the KK Mart controversy, the Era FM issue, and the temple relocation case.
“How can we aspire to be a family that allows no room for mistakes? How can we become a family or a nation that offers no space for learning, no grace for self-correction?
“What kind of family, company, or country abandons the understanding that to err is human, and to forgive, divine?” he asked.
However, Irwan claimed that, contrary to Tajuddin’s statement, people have been too tolerant of past controversies.
“The flag incident is an issue for Malaysian citizens. It is an unforgivable offence because, after 60 years of independence, it is impossible for a Malaysian not to know what the Malaysian flag looks like.
“Today, Malaysians - especially Malays - have been too tolerant with various issues such as KK Mart, and have now reached a tipping point when the national flag has been desecrated by those who purposely want to enrage the Malays.
“How can Malays be called ‘vindictive’ for wanting to defend the nation’s dignity?” he said.
In a separate statement today, Perkasa information chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris questioned whether Tajuddin is “blind or daft” for defending those who are “kurang ajar” (uncouth) towards the country.
He echoed Mustapha’s statement that Tajuddin can leave the country and renounce his citizenship if he is ashamed of being a Malaysian.
“But, you must also remember that as long as you are a Malaysian citizen, you must respect and defend the sovereignty of Malaysia because Malaysia is an independent territory,” he said.
Heavy-handed measures
Yesterday, Tajuddin expressed concern and dismay over the investigations against Sin Chew that have led to the arrest of two of its editors, and called for further action to be taken against it.
Among those calling for action is Perkasa, which held a demonstration outside Sin Chew’s headquarters demanding that the editors be sacked or the newspaper’s license be suspended.
The backlash against Sin Chew followed the paper’s publication of an illustration of a jong on its front page on Tuesday, which carried the flags of Malaysia and China. This was in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.
However, the Malaysian flag was missing its crescent moon.
Tajuddin noted that despite the paper having issued a correction, apologised, suspended its editors, and committed to improving its editorial processes including those surrounding the use of artificial intelligence – calls demanding a “pound of flesh” continued to mount.
He added that Malaysians have failed to learn from several incidents, including the KK Mart controversy, the Era FM issue, and the temple relocation case.
“How can we aspire to be a family that allows no room for mistakes? How can we become a family or a nation that offers no space for learning, no grace for self-correction?
“What kind of family, company, or country abandons the understanding that to err is human, and to forgive, divine?” he asked.
However, Irwan claimed that, contrary to Tajuddin’s statement, people have been too tolerant of past controversies.
“The flag incident is an issue for Malaysian citizens. It is an unforgivable offence because, after 60 years of independence, it is impossible for a Malaysian not to know what the Malaysian flag looks like.
“Today, Malaysians - especially Malays - have been too tolerant with various issues such as KK Mart, and have now reached a tipping point when the national flag has been desecrated by those who purposely want to enrage the Malays.
“How can Malays be called ‘vindictive’ for wanting to defend the nation’s dignity?” he said.