KUALA LUMPUR – A shouting match erupted in the Dewan Rakyat during the Budget 2025 debate when Wan Razali Wan Nor (Kuantan-PN) voiced concerns over the display of foreign flags in Malaysia.
During his speech, Wan Razali touched on issues regarding the granting of citizenship, saying that he does not want those who obtain Malaysian nationality to later display the flags of foreign countries here.
It is believed Wan Razali’s statements were made in light of the International Guan Gong Culture Festival at Teluk Intan last week which drew controversy after participants from China displayed their flags during the event.
The Kuantan MP’s comments prompted R.S.N Rayer (Jelutong-PH) to mention that such statements were both misleading and inciteful, given the participants at the event were not Malaysians.
“You are trying to say that it was the Malaysian Chinese who flew China flags,” Rayer said in Parliament.
However, Wan Razali said he was baffled by Rayer’s outrage and pointed out that his comments were not directed at any specific person or group.
“What is the problem? I am a Malaysian who is giving a reminder to everyone.
“I said that we don’t want a situation where we give citizenship to people who would later fly foreign flags here,” Wan Razali said.
Deputy speaker Alice Lau was forced to intervene and reminded Rayer that the Kuantan MP’s speech did not specify which country he was referring to.
“I don’t want to waste any more time. If you want you can look at Hansard and submit a motion,” Lau said.
The event at Teluk Intan on Thursday drew controversy after photos and videos of the festival showing several participants flying Chinese flags went viral on social media.
Netizens who saw the images asked if the scene was in China or Malaysia, and other social uploads expressed concerns about communist elements and urged police to investigate.
Responding to the controversy, the festival’s chairman Soon Boon Hua said the waving of China’s flag was never part of the planned programme, and that those who waved the flag were visitors from China, not Malaysian citizens. – October 29, 2024