IT'S clear that the display of a foreign national flag or political statement is taken seriously in any country.
During a visit to Tibet in May, I unfurled the Jalur Gemilang at the base camp of Mount Everest, but suddenly I heard someone shouting aggressively.
The guide, who accompanied me, gestured in an angry manner to put away the flag.
My inability to understand Mandarin did not help as he looked panicked.
Then, he explained to a travelling member, that it was an offence to display a foreign flag.
He could even lose his tourist guide licence if he was caught.
Last week, some Chinese nationals found themselves in a spot when they were found waving the red flags at a Guan Gong festival in Teluk Intan, Perak.
The organisers of the God of War international event apologised and said they were caught unprepared too.
The incident went down badly and some politicians were quick to turn the incident into a controversy.
The police have called up the organisers and the 17 Chinese nationals.
In Saudi Arabia, many Indonesian pilgrims in Mecca who displayed Palestine flags have had these flags confiscated by Saudi policemen.
These Indonesians have made videos posted on social platforms advising their countrymen that the Saudis are against such acts.
The display of any form of international or political statements is strictly forbidden in the kingdom. During my 2023 visit to Jeddah and Medina, I visited two Palestinian-owned restaurants.
At both premises, I asked why the Palestine flags were not put up, as I wanted an appropriate backdrop to suit my pictures and they then told me that it was not approved.
I also wanted to see a display of Palestine support having visited Gaza personally before.
It was a lesson for me as in Malaysia or even in the United Kingdom or the United States, it was common for us to carry the Palestine flags in Malaysia as a form of support for these oppressed people.
Even so, there are opinions among some of us that the Palestinian flags should not be overdone. The Saudi stand is understandable as the authorities do not encourage any form of protests which may encourage possible domestic political similarities.
In the case of the China nationals at Teluk Intan, the excited visitors probably did not realise that their actions were frowned upon.
The organisers should have immediately acted on the spot or given advance notice.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad had said activities at any organisation or gathering would not be considered offensive as long as they adhere to the laws.
He said it is not unusual for foreign citizens to wave their national flags when abroad, but it would be an offence for any Malaysian to fly a foreign flag at a local event.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said a police permit was granted for the Guan Gong temple's event, but foreigners were not permitted to take part in the parade.
It's a lesson to all future events involving foreign nationals. It's a different story if the flags of all participating foreigners are involved but the presence of the Jalur Gemilang is non-negotiable.
In the recent case of a Penang private school, the audience was said to display China flags to welcome trainee navy soldiers from China, who were on port call in the state.
Likewise, the photographs that were circulated showed students holding the Chinese flag. However photographs which showed the students waving the Jalur Gemilang were left out or intentionally left out of the narrative.
Again, it should serve as a lesson to everyone - there is no excuse not to boldly put up our national flag proudly.
In Thailand, the national anthem is played at a specific time and everyone stands still until the song is ended.
Such displays of patriotism must be carried out in all events including even international ones, like the Guan Gong meetings.
It is important that our authorities must make clear to organisers and associations with foreign participants the guidelines on do's and don'ts.
Likewise we should also be clear, like the Saudis, when it comes to displaying foreign flags.
A no is a no. It does not matter if they are Palestine or Timbuktu. The line is clear.
The two incidents, in Teluk Intan and Penang, should be a reminder that their ignorance can be exploited by politicians who want to play the racial card.
To these politicians, they should also not get too carried away with their statements, which should not be misconstrued as unfriendly to China, or worse, smacks of racism.
Then there is Perak PAS commissioner Razali Razman who reportedly made racist remarks at a counter demonstration in Teluk Intan.
Chinese tourism in Malaysia is expected to surge past RM30bil next year, nearly double than the pre-Covid period, as Malaysia is a top 10 favourite country of Chinese tourism.
In the first eight months of this year, we welcomed 2.2 million Chinese tourists which is a 160% increase against last year.
Much efforts have been made between the Malaysia and China governments in the past 50 years of friendship with much economic gains.
The last thing we need are politicians who make racist comments which would make it way to China and resulting in adverse implications.
The republic has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for more than a decade, but with a country of 1.4 billion, there will always be ignorant citizens when they travel overseas.
But like the Ugly Americans in the early years, who displayed their brazenness, with the visa-free policy, there will be good and well-behaved tourists but there will always be bad ones, too.
In Singapore, the island republic has even experienced money laundering criminals from China. But as in any picture, there will be black dots in a white space.
Like my upset tourist guide, who feared losing his license, Malaysian hosts must be made aware of our local sensitivities, customs and even legal requirements.
They must be held responsible for the actions of foreigners, not just the Chinese.
But let's not be perceived as if we are picking on the Chinese nationals only, which would be foolish.
The governments of Malaysia and China are working hard to benefit from the close friendship.
As I write this article, I have just met Malaysian students studying at the Beijing Jiaotong University.
They included Adam Fahmi, Aida Nadhirah, Tan Jun Xun, Lim Zheng Sheng and many others who are studying engineering with an emphasis on rail logistics.
These students will benefit Malaysia eventually as they are being trained for HSR and ECRL.
Over 5,000 Malaysians, mostly Malays, will be accepted into technical and vocational education training (TVET) in various colleges in China.
Let's focus on the positive and not isolated incidents.
* Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is a veteran journalist, SMG adviser and Bernama chairman.
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