It was ‘one moment of madness’, says Chong of Malaysia Day Facebook post

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen has refused to budge from his stand that it is inappropriate to play the national anthem in cinemas. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 22, 2014.

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen today described his action of criticising on Facebook the playing of the national anthem before the screening of movies in cinemas as “one moment of madness”.

“A culmination of frustration,” Chong said of his Malaysia Day posting which drew the ire of many Malaysians when he asked why the Negaraku should be played in cinemas during the Merdeka Week campaign.

However, the Bandar Kuching MP who said the expressions and words he had used in his posting “were a mistake” is not budging from his stand that it was inappropriate to play the national anthem in cinemas.

“I still hold to that belief. If you talk about appropriate and suitable places, then it would have to be in parliament or the DUN (state legislative assembly).

“But we don't sing the national anthem before every sitting of parliament nor in the DUN,” he said.

Chong said he could not understand why he was criticised for questioning the playing of the anthem in cinemas.

“It's a matter of opinion, and everybody is entitled to his opinion.

“Wan Junaidi is also of the opinion that it’s not suitable," Chong said, referring to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who a year ago had expressed his unhappiness with the directive by the government.

The deputy home minister had said he was concerned that cinema-goers would mock the directive and asked whether this was the best way to educate people about patriotism.

“I am not comfortable with it. You cannot force patriotism,” he had said.

While he lauded the noble intention of the government, he said people go to cinemas to “relax and chitchat with friends”.

Chong's posting echoed Wan Junaidi's sentiments.

Chong provoked the ire of Malaysians when he asked in the Facebook posting if Malaysia was headed towards “the communist Mao (former Chinese communist chairman Mao Tse Tung) era where everywhere you go, you must shout out aloud and show that you are a patriot”.

Chong, who attended a movie at a cinema in one of Kuching's popular malls with his family last Saturday, said the playing of the national anthem before the screening was an “absolute disgrace n (and) ridiculous”.

“Before the start of the movie, everyone was asked to stand for the playing of the national anthem.

“All the people around me looked at each other with the look of puzzlement and amusement n (and) in their eyes, as if asking out loud ‘What the hell is going on?’

“Some actually did,” Chong wrote, adding that some laughed in disdain.

“I would not know how to tell my friends overseas that we Malaysians r (are) so patriotic that we play our national anthem before watching a movie.

“Next would b (be) dinner, before bedtime and maybe before s....,” he wrote.

Even though he later retracted the posting and apologised for the comments, it did not save him from the wrath of Abdullah Saidol, a fellow lawmaker in the Sarawak state legislative assembly.

“I am shocked and disgusted at the comments and attitude shown by a Malaysian citizen with the title Yang Berhormat (His Honourable),” the Semop assemblyman said.

Abdullah, who is also head of the Backbenchers in the state assembly, said although Chong had acknowledged that his comments were inappropriate and had apologised, it was “his first impression about it which counts”.

“Many people read his comments and he should feel ashamed of himself.

“What's wrong with spending no more than three minutes standing up in the cinema for our national anthem?” Abdullah asked.

Abdullah also censured Chong for comparing Malaysia to China.

“How dare he compare Malaysia to that communist country? And worst, he said it was a disgrace and ridiculous.

“I will not say more. I believe many people out there are able to judge for themselves this despicable attitude shown by Chong and that speaks loud about who he is and what he represents.”

Chong said the episode was “a lesson to be learnt” (about posting in any social media).

- TMI