In a sharp contrast to his usual fire-and-brimstone approach to flag gaffes and other issues, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh adopted a more placid tone when addressing Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

He urged the Perikatan Nasional chairperson to instruct the Kuala Terengganu City Council to check for evidence that the missing crescent and star symbols on the Jalur Gemilang were unintentional.

Akmal’s statement came after DAP MP RSN Rayer questioned Umno Youth’s silence on the matter.

A video had circulated showing the defective flag at Dataran Batu Buruk, prompting Samsuri to clarify that it was an “accident”.

Kuala Terengganu mayor Lizan Che Mat, meanwhile, said the Jalur Gemilang in question had the crescent and star symbols stitched on, but they had come loose due to strong coastal winds.

The flag has since been replaced.

Look for stitch marks…

In a video posted last night, Akmal asked MBKT to prove that the symbols had originally been stitched onto the flag, saying there would be marks if this were the case.

“If there are, then the people can know which (version of events) is right or wrong.

“If there are no (stitch marks), then I ask the menteri besar to take stern action against the person who hoisted the flag if they knew it did not have the crescent and star symbols,” he said.

Akmal then recounted last year’s Penang flag gaffe, in which a trader momentarily hoisted an upside-down Jalur Gemilang. The Umno Youth leader insisted the act was intentional, despite the trader claiming it was a mistake.

Akmal is facing a criminal charge of threatening public order over a demonstration outside the trader’s shop last year.