SHAH ALAM - Gerakan President Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai has expressed his opposition to the proposal made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari to use a separate logo and theme for Merdeka Day celebrations in the four states under PN's control.
Lau, who is also PN deputy chairman, said that the celebration of National Day should not be politicised by the opposition coalition, as it would paint the event in a negative light to the people, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reports.
The proposal was made by Fadhli yesterday, who launched the coalition's proposed separate hibiscus Merdeka Day logo and the theme "Teguh Muafakat Malaysia Sejahtera" (Strenghtening Malaysia's Accord for Prosperity) for use by the four states under its control: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
Lau said that he voiced his objections to the proposal during a meeting held by PN's central leadership.
"He (Fadhli) made that proposal after we saw the PH-BN government politicised the Merdeka theme and logo by using terms such as 'Madani' and 'unity'.
"But ultimately Fadhli cannot do anything because he is not a chief minister or a menteri besar,” he told a press conference in Teluk Kumbar here.
Following the announcement, Fadhli has faced backlash from several parties, including National Patriots Association president Arshad Raji, who said the separate theme betrayed the principles of federalism practised in Malaysia.
Deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil also criticised the move. Zahid said Fadhli was trying to politicise the theme while Fahmi said mooting a separate theme would sow disunity.
The National Unity Ministry has also weighed in on the matter, saying that it will not approve the use of a separate logo and theme for Merdeka Day celebrations.
The ministry's minister, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, said that the Merdeka Day logo and theme are national symbols that should not be politicized.
"The Merdeka Day logo and theme are symbols of national unity and should not be used to promote political agendas," she said in a statement.
The ministry has also called on all Malaysians to celebrate Merdeka Day in a spirit of unity and harmony.