PETALING JAYA: An unintentional error on the illustration of Jalur Gemilang should not be over-interpreted, says the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia president Tan Sri T.C. Goh.

In a statement, Goh said the unintentional error should not be exploited by some with vested interest to claim that the flag blunder was done with motive.

Goh, who is also the president of Sabah Chinese Assembly Hall, said the matter should not be over-interpreted by turning it into a complex issue.

“It should not be made a political and racial issue,” he said.

The reminder by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, apology tendered by Sin Chew Daily and the review on internal channel on publication procedure by the editorial department of Sin Chew Daily should not amplify the matter further.

All parties should heed the advice by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim to be patriotic and rational in this matter, he said.

Goh is one of the groups and politicians that have defended Sin Chew Daily.

The Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall urges members of the public to be rational and tolerant over the flag blunder as the newspaper has issued an apology, it said in a statement.

While stressing that the management of newspaper and the editorial department should be more cautious and sensitive in checking the contents before print, it said members of the public should extend support to journalists.

“As an accountable and responsible newspaper, Sin Chew Daily has issued an apology with no intention to downplay the blunder,” it said.

As the flag blunder occurred in more than one newspaper, the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall said newspapers should strengthen their internal channels to prevent a repeat of such incident.

The Malaysian Entrepreneurs’ Development Association (PUMM) president Datuk Dr. Teh Tai Yong urges all parties to remain calm for the authorities to investigate.

“An unintentional error should not be exaggerated,” he said.

Dr Teh also said organisations and politicians who hardly read newspapers should not be leveraging on the matter to gain public attention.

“I love my country and I love Jalur Gemilang. I view the matter in a rational way and I will continue to support Sin Chew Daily,” he said.

Former principal of New Era College Dr Kua Kia Soong said that the flag blunder has been weaponised where an unintentional error is seen as a serious act of betrayal.

The former member of parliament said all should move on as Sin Chew Daily has since rectified the error and apologised.

“Those who have published books, articles or posts on social media will understand omission can be inevitable,” he said.

Former Selangor exco Datuk Teng Chang Khim said, as a 100-year-old newspaper which is even older than Malaysia, Sin Chew Daily would not want to intentionally provoke issues which are racially sensitive.

“Sin Chew Daily will not be that silly to offend Malaysians intentionally,” he wrote on Facebook.

It was reported that the police have received 40 reports against Sin Chew Daily over the publication of an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on the newspaper’s front page on April 15.

The Editor-in-Chief of Sin Chew Daily Chan Aun Kuang and Deputy Chief Sub-Editor Tsai Shwu San were suspended on April 17 by the management of Sin Chew Daily. They were released on police bail on the same night in connection with the probe.

Police are investigating the case under Section 3(1)(c) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Sin Chew Daily issued an apology shortly after discovering the illustration of an incomplete Jalur Gemilang.