Penang shop owner, 59, arrested after 16 police reports made about M'sian flag raised upside down

A hardware store owner in Penang was arrested on Aug. 9 after 16 police reports were made nationwide about a video of a Malaysian flag being raised upside-down at his store.

This comes as Malaysia celebrates its independence in Merdeka Month, ahead of National Day on Aug. 31, 2025.

Penang acting police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said on Aug. 10 that the 59-year-old man was detained on Aug. 9 to assist in investigations, according to Malaysian media.

Flag raised upside-down

The footage is believed to have been recorded at a hardware shop in Kepala Batas, Penang, on Aug. 9.

In a 20-second clip circulating on social media, a man could be seen hoisting the Malaysian flag, also known as the Jalur Gemilang, upside-down on a metal pole outside the shop.

The man then waved the flag while another man recorded him doing so.

The video drew backlash after it was posted on Facebook on Aug. 9, New Straits Times reported.

On the incident, Mohd Alwi told The Star that police received 12 reports lodged in Penang and four reports lodged elsewhere in Malaysia.

The case is being investigated under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, the Minor Offences Act 1955, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he said.

Mohd Alwi added that police would be submitting their findings to the state Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office, with a recommendation to press charges.

He reminded the public to respect the Jalur Gemilang as a symbol of national sovereignty, adding that police view such acts seriously and will take firm action.

It was a mistake: Owner

On Aug. 9, the shop owner apologised over the incident when asked by media, and claimed it was his "first ever" mistake, Harian Metro reported.

The owner claimed that he wanted to measure the height of the pole on the morning of Aug. 9, so he raised the flag without tying it properly.

Speaking to the media outside Seberang Perai North police station, he said: "We only realised [that the flag was upside down] when it was up, so we pulled it down."

The owner also offered an apology to all Malaysians for his negligence.

Top image from historyadventure79/TikTok and Harian Metro