BY: DESMOND JUDE

Lately, there have been a few incidents or cases of certain organisations showing disrespect and dishonouring the Jalur Gemilang which has shocked right thinking Malaysians who believe this actually is some kind of treason.

But were these acts deliberately done or as one social media platform put it as “human error” is up to the authorities to investigate and determine if any further action needs to be taken as this is not some trivial matter.

School children are now compelled to wear the Jalur Gemilang on their uniforms to learn to show respect and to honour the nation of Malaysia as citizens and it is a crying shame that adults are not leading by example.

What sort of impression does it create on young Malaysians when the Jalur Gemilang, a national symbol of stature of an independent nation, is blatantly disrespectful and not honoured. Those who have disrespected the national flag are therefore a disappointment.

But in all fairness, the authorities should not jump the gun because wrongs like this are bound to happen, and only if the disrespect shown is deliberate there must be the capacity for us to forgive those who have made undue mistakes.

In the words of the English poet, Alexander Pope: “To err is human but to forgive is divine,” it is hoped that His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong will bestow forgiveness on the offenders and only punish those who commit deliberate transgressions.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher