Why focus on China flags alone, asks MCA veep

Tan Teik Cheng says over 200 foreigners attended the parade and waved their national flags, including those from Thailand and Vietnam.

(FMT) – MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng has questioned why criticism of a parade in Teluk Intan, Perak, has been centred on the waving of China’s flag alone when the flags of other nations were also hoisted.

Tan said the recent International Guan Gong Cultural Festival in Teluk Intan included representatives from several countries, including Thailand, Vietnam and China.

“Police investigations revealed that about 400 spectators attended the parade that day, around 200 of whom were foreigners.

“There were also people waving the Thai and Vietnamese flags at the event, yet only the waving of Chinese flags became an issue,” he said in a statement.

The controversy arose after a video was shared online showing a group of people waving the Chinese flag near the Leaning Tower in Teluk Intan during a temple festival and parade on Oct 24.

Guan Gong Cultural Association chairman Soon Boon Hua has since apologised for the incident and said the Chinese flags were waved by a delegation from China. He said this was not planned by the organisers.

Tan accused certain politicians of exploiting the incident and using any means necessary to gain “cheap political capital”, thereby putting friendly relations between China and Malaysia at risk.

“These politicians constantly look for opportunities to sow discord. This will do nothing but create an atmosphere of tension and fear in our multicultural society,” he said.

Tan urged Malaysians not to be swayed by these politicians, whom he described as the culprits behind instability and disunity in the nation.

Earlier today, two DAP elected representatives hit out at Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, who had criticised the festival and alleged that Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming had officiated the event.

Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong accused Razman of fanning racial sentiments, while Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the PAS leader had sown discord by exploiting the incident.

An aide to Nga, the housing and local government minister and DAP vice-chairman, has since denied that he took part in the event. A police report has also been filed against Razman over his claim.

Separately, DAP’s Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee also questioned why certain quarters were only making a fuss about the China flags being waved when others were also present.

Kerk, the Melaka assembly deputy speaker, said he had attended a similar parade for the same festival in Johor Bahru, Johor, on Oct 20.

“I was informed that the parade included delegations from China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

“What’s the issue if delegations of other countries invited to this cultural event wave the flags of their home countries?

“And why was there no issue over the waving of Vietnam and Thailand’s flags?” he said in a post on X.