A printing company has apologised after attire worn by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and several dignitaries at a Merdeka event featured an incorrect Jalur Gemilang star.
NE Creative Ventures, based in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, accepted full responsibility for the error after photographs of the attire circulated widely on social media and drew criticism.
The company said the mistake occurred during the production process, resulting in the Malaysian flag motif being printed with fewer than the official 14 points on the star.
In a letter addressed to the Kedah Menteri Besar’s Office, the company explained that the design had been produced using reference artwork supplied to it before undergoing technical tracing during production.
It said a last-minute additional order had placed the production team under tight time constraints, leading to less thorough quality-control checks.
“The design of the attire was printed based on the reference artwork file received before undergoing a technical tracing process during the production stage,” the company said, as reported by Berita Harian.
“We acknowledge that an oversight occurred after receiving an additional last-minute order to meet a tight deadline, resulting in the detailed checking process, or quality control, being less thorough,” it added.
The company said replacement attire would be provided immediately to ensure the garments complied with the official specifications of the Jalur Gemilang.
It also pledged to strengthen its standard operating procedures, particularly when handling designs involving national symbols, state emblems and corporate logos.
As part of the new measures, customers will be required to sign a final artwork approval form before printing begins.
The company said it took the public criticism seriously and expressed regret over the incident, while thanking the parties involved for their cooperation and understanding.
The controversy emerged after images showed Sanusi and several dignitaries wearing the attire, with social media users pointing out that the star on the Jalur Gemilang appeared to have fewer than the required 14 points.
The photographs were initially published by Warta Kedah, the Kedah state government’s official media channel, before being widely circulated online.
The attire was worn during the Merdeka Kibar Jalur Gemilang Boat Parade last Friday, held as part of celebrations marking Malaysia’s 69th Independence Day.
The event was jointly organised by the Anak Bukit and Suka Menanti state constituency service centres and officiated by Sanusi.
Nearly 100 boats participated in the parade, travelling from Kampung Alor Madi to the State Museum while flying the Jalur Gemilang.
