A group of Malaysians who displayed the Jalur Gemilang upside down during a demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, risks damaging the reputation of Malaysians studying and working in the country, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said.
Mustapha said the Madani Government upheld freedom of expression, but stressed that individuals must remain accountable for their actions.
“However, freedom does not mean a person is exempt from the consequences of their actions.
“The actions of a group of Malaysians who insulted the Jalur Gemilang overseas risk damaging the reputation of Malaysians studying and working in that country,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The Sepanggar MP also stressed that insulting the national flag did not reflect the values of Sabah and Sarawak communities, which he described as courteous and respectful.
The statement followed a demonstration organised by the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) Australia group outside the Victorian Parliament Building in Melbourne in conjunction with United Nations Day.
In a Facebook post on the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia – SSKM page, the group uploaded a media statement poster dated Oct 24, 2026, titled “Malaysian Flag Turned Upside Down As Call For Sabah And Sarawak’s Voices To Be Heard”.
The poster showed several individuals holding Sabah and Sarawak flags, alongside placards carrying messages about the rights and future of the two states.
Mustapha said demands for Sabah and Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) had once been considered sensitive, but the issue could now be discussed openly.
“Some people were detained by the authorities and faced legal action. Today, the rights of Sabah and Sarawak can be discussed openly and have even become a key agenda of the Madani Government,” he said.
He added that 12 MA63 matters had been resolved during nearly four years of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, while Sabah’s interim special grant had increased from RM26.7 million to RM1.5 billion annually. Negotiations over Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement were also ongoing, he said.
Mustapha said the public could assess the results of pursuing these rights through negotiations and government action, rather than through provocative acts.
He also encouraged members of the public to lodge formal police reports so that social media content showing the Jalur Gemilang upside down could be investigated under the applicable laws.
