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JOHOR BAHRU — The Communications Ministry will hold discussions with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) to address the growing issue of concert ticket scalping at inflated prices.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said KPDN is currently reviewing the matter, including the possibility of introducing a Bill to tackle the matter.

“The Communications Ministry has also engaged with event organisers and ticketing companies to find the most suitable solution to this issue,” she said at a press conference for the Johor leg of the Madani MSME Digital Grant Festival 2025 in Permas Jaya today.

Teo said the problem is most common at high-profile international concerts, such as G-Dragon’s, where soaring demand allows scalpers to resell tickets at heavily marked-up prices.

Last Friday, Teo chaired a meeting with representatives from KPDN and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to address the growing concern of ticket scalping, which is hurting the country’s entertainment industry.

She said the session gathered input and proposals from agencies directly involved in monitoring and enforcing concert ticket sales, while also examining examples from countries with anti-scalping laws. — BERNAMA

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KEPALA BATAS — Police detained the owner of a hardware store in Jalan Bertam Perdana here, following a flap over the Jalur Gemilang being flown upside down in front of his premises yesterday.

Acting Penang police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the arrest of the 59-year-old man was made last night in the Kepala Batas area.

“The case is being investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988.

“The investigation papers will be referred to the Penang deputy public prosecutor’s office tomorrow with a proposed charge,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Alwi stated that so far, police have received 16 reports regarding the incident, 12 of which were lodged in the state, while the other four were reported outside the Penang contingent.

He said the police view such acts seriously and reminded the public to respect the Jalur Gemilang as a symbol of national sovereignty.

Yesterday, a 21-second video went viral on social media showing two men at a hardware store here, who appeared to have deliberately installed and hoisted the Jalur Gemilang upside down, earning the wrath of netizens.

Following this, several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican filed a police report.  — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — Any dissatisfaction or discontent with the country is not a licence or permit to insult the national flag.

Legal and constitutional expert Associate Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz said public awareness of the correct and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang must be strengthened to safeguard the country’s dignity and sovereignty.

She said the adult generation must serve as role models for the young, as reflected in the saying “bapa borek, anak rintik”, where good practices in handling and displaying the flag become a legacy for future generations.

“In recent years, we have seen various mistakes made by our people when using or hoisting the flag, for example, flying it upside down, darkening its colours, displaying flags with the wrong number of stars or points, and so on.

“When such errors occur, they reflect the identity of Malaysians themselves,” she told Bernama recently.

Shamrahayu added that the improper use or display of the flag not only tarnishes the country’s image but can also undermine the nation’s dignity.

Although there is no specific constitutional provision on national symbols, Shamrahayu said government guidelines regarding the flag should be more widely publicised, and if offences become frequent, formal regulations could be developed based on the principles of the Rukun Negara and the Constitution.

“If we find that offences relating to the flag and national symbols are occurring often, then perhaps we should formalise guidelines based on the Rukun Negara and the Constitution to ensure proper and respectful use of the Jalur Gemilang,” she said.

Shamrahayu emphasised that the Jalur Gemilang is not merely a piece of coloured cloth, but a symbol of national sovereignty and identity.

She urged Malaysians to understand the meaning behind each colour and symbol, and to fly the flag with pride, not only during Merdeka celebrations, but throughout the year.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Centre for Development, Social and Environmental Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Dr Novel Lyndon, said that the act of flying the national flag reflects a person’s level of respect and love for the country.

“This act is a symbol of patriotism that appreciates the services of freedom fighters and the history of building a sovereign nation,” he said.

He said the act of hoisting a flag that is worn, torn or not in accordance with the rules gives the impression that some people are less sensitive to the symbols of the nation, thus affecting the image of the country in the eyes of the local and international community.

Such attitudes, he warned, could weaken national identity and erode patriotic spirit among the young generation.

To address this, Novel proposed strengthening patriotic education from the school level through history and civics lessons, while using mass media, community programmes, and National Month celebrations to foster love for the nation.

“Without this awareness, the flag will only be seen as a piece of cloth, no longer a symbol of dignity, pride, and the spirit of the struggle for independence,” he stressed. — BERNAMA

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ALOR SETAR — The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has expressed hope that more school students from the B40 group will join phase two of the MyLesen B2 programme, which allows them to obtain a free motorcycle licence.

JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli (picture) said this aligns with the 10,000 new spots under the initiative recently announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

“…we are targeting to help more underprivileged secondary school students aged 16 and above obtain their motorcycle licence so that they can ride to school.

“JPJ, the Ministry of Education and state education departments have reviewed several matters to expand the MyLesen B2 programme to the school level,” he told reporters at the handover ceremony of the MyLesen B2 driving licence for Kedah state here today.

“I hope the government will consider JPJ’s request to increase the allocation for the MyLesen B2 programme next year, as it has received an overwhelming response,” he said, adding that the programme would also ensure better compliance with road traffic laws.

The government allocated 15,000 spots for the free motorcycle licence under phase one of the programme, which began in February.

The MyLesen B2 programme is an initiative to help the B40 group obtain a free Class B2 of the Malaysian Driving Licence (LLM), as part of efforts to enhance mobility, employment opportunities, and road safety.

Meanwhile, Aedly Fadly said that only the government can decide to lower the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence below 16, adding that thorough preparations and discussions are necessary before it can be introduced.

“Currently, the minimum age to obtain a motorcycle licence is 16 and 17 for a car licence…Lowering the age limit would require thorough preparation at driving institutes, for example, as well as addressing concerns from parents,” he added. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has stressed that there will be no change to the categories of vehicles currently subject to tolls, including the exemption for motorcyclists.

This comes in response to a viral post by the social media account ebidmotor.com yesterday, alleging that motorcyclists would begin paying tolls this October.

LLM confirmed today that the claim is false and warned that such misinformation could unnecessarily alarm motorcyclists and harm the reputation of the government, the Ministry of Works (KKR), LLM, and the affected highway concessionaires.

“For the public’s information, PLUS Malaysia Berhad is currently testing an open toll system using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

“If the tests prove successful, the system will be rolled out in stages across highways operated by PLUS Malaysia Berhad, it said, adding that the aim is to improve traffic flow, enhance user convenience, and reduce congestion at toll plazas.

LLM urged the public, especially toll highway users, not to believe or spread unverified claims and to rely only on official updates from the relevant authorities. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — About 2,000 people from diverse backgrounds gathered at Dataran Merdeka yesterday to show solidarity with the Palestinian people during the Malaysia Bangkit Untuk Gaza rally.

The rally commenced with marches from three main points: the Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, and Kompleks Sogo, before participants convened in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Despite rain around 4 pm, participants remained enthusiastic, continuing their march while wearing mufflers in the colours of the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans such as ‘Bebaskan Palestin’ and ‘Undur Israel dari Gaza’.

The event at Dataran Merdeka resumed at around 5 pm with a pantomime performance by Palestinian children, followed by songs and speeches from various attendees.

Participants also performed the Maghrib prayer in congregation at the assembly site before the programme, organised by the Humanity 4 Gaza (H4G) Secretariat, continued. The event brought together 20 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from across the country.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Affendy Sulaiman said that 400 police personnel were deployed to ensure security and manage traffic throughout the rally, working closely with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“As of 8.30 pm, we estimate that more than 2,000 participants attended the rally. The entire event was conducted peacefully and in a controlled manner,” he said when contacted. — BERNAMA

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