IPOH: Persatuan Kebudayaan Guan Gong chairman Soon Boon Hua has clarified that the flag-raising incident in Teluk Intan occurred during a Guan Gong Festival on Oct 24.
He said the flags were raised by Chinese nationals and were not by Malaysians.
"As the organiser of the event, we want to apologise to the people over the displaying of the Chinese flags.
"The act (of displaying the China flags) was not in our plan.
"During the event, which was also held in other states, the organiser will raise the Jalur Gemilang, as a symbol of patriotism, and we are no different," he said in the statement on Facebook.
Soon said the event is meant to celebrate the deity Guan Gong, who is worshipped by Taoists as the god of war and the martial god of wealth and has been also held for many years.
"We apologise over the incident and will review all aspects that need to be improved on," he added.
Meanwhile, two DAP representatives have denied attending the event where Chinese flags were raised in Teluk Intan.
Perak state executive council member Woo Kah Leong said neither he nor Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming were present at the event.
"I have been called upon to provide feedback regarding the slanderous and inaccurate statement issued by the state opposition leader and Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria,” he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 25).
Woo “vehemently refuted” Razman's statement that the act of flying the Chinese flag had ever happened during the lantern festival organised by the locals on Sept 13.
Razman had earlier issued a statement claiming that Woo and Nga had attended an event in Teluk Intan where the Chinese flags were raised.
The Gunung Semanggol assemblyman claimed that the act had happened during a lantern festival, at which both DAP leaders were present.
A video of the flag-raising incident has also gone viral.
Woo demanded Razman to retract his statement and publicly apologise for spreading misinformation.
"His statement is slanderous and malicious for trying to link the incident with Nga and myself.
"A professional opposition leader should check the facts before issuing any official statement and take heed from previous cases of defamation suits where he has to pay a large sum for compensation.
"I want to emphasise once again, that as a Malaysian and also a representative of the people, I have always upheld the sovereignty of Malaysia and never divided Malaysians like what PAS is doing now," he added.
In a brief reply, Nga said police reports would be lodged against Razman for inciting hatred and spreading falsehood.
