Penang: Penang police advise the public not to participate in any gathering tomorrow at a hardware store in Kepala Batas, which recently went viral on social media for flying the national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, upside down. Penang Police Chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the advice was aimed at ensuring the safety of local residents and maintaining public order.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azizee emphasized the need for patience and urged everyone to wait for the decision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding further instructions on the investigation of the case. He cautioned against taking any actions that might provoke tension and assured that the police would take stern action against anyone violating the law or disturbing public peace.

Today, a social media post inviting the public to join the gathering went viral. In response, Azizee noted that a total of 38 police reports had been filed nationwide about the case. Investigations are also underway concerning individuals who recorded and shared the video under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Yesterday, the owner of the hardware store, Pang Chin Tian, 59, expressed his readiness to face any legal consequences. He admitted that flying the flag upside down was an unintentional mistake, took responsibility for the incident that occurred last Saturday, and promised to be more cautious when displaying the Jalur Gemilang in the future.