PETALING JAYA: Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister Mustapha Sakmud has strongly criticised a group of Malaysians, believed to be from East Malaysia, for flying the Jalur Gemilang upside-down outside the Parliament of Victoria in Australia.
The group, who are part of an Australian-registered NGO called Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia, committed the act during a protest staged outside the Parliament House in Melbourne yesterday.
Mustapha said the group's actions do not represent the polite and courteous culture of Sabahans and Sarawakians, and could tarnish the reputation of Malaysians working and studying in Australia, Berita Harian reported.
He urged the public to lodge reports with the police so that social media posts of the protest and upside-down Malaysian flag may be investigated.
He added that demands for Sabah and Sarawak's rights can be discussed amicably with the current federal government.
"More than 20 years ago, the struggle involving the Malaysia Agreement 1963 was considered a sensitive issue, with some activists arrested and legal action taken against them.
"Today, Sabah and Sarawak's rights can be discussed openly, and is in fact a key agenda of the Madani government," said Mustapha, the Sabah PKR chief.