Army veteran keeps flying 'Jalur Gemilang' despite being called 'freak'

Some have tagged him a freak for decorating his motorcycle with 'Jalur Gemilang' that has not deterred Juhari Mat Alias from continuing to do the same every August.

The 65-year-old army veteran has been at it for the past 20 years.

The Kampung Teluk Ketapang resident not only erects flags on his machine to usher in the Merdeka also at public toilets at the Teluk Ketapang Beach where he is currently employed.

"I began putting up the 'Jalur Gemilang' after I retired in 1996 because patriotism is too thick in meindeed, whenever August comes, I will decorate my motorcycle, house and the public toilets where I work, with the 'Jalur Gemilang'.

"The people have called me a freak and all sorts of names, (and) that makes me angry! I will find that person and ask personally, 'Am I the one who is mad or is it you who has gone mad?

"I told (that person) that I put up all these because I love my country and it is only for a certain period, not all the time," Juhari told Bernama here Monday.

He said he would fork out his own money every year to ensure that his surroundings were filled with national flags from early August until the celebration of Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

"I have spent hundreds of to erect these flags. The quantity varies. I will put up bit by bit until the number reaches hundreds.

"Actually, how many flags you put up is not important. The most important thing is the patriotism. I am sad to see not many people are keen to fly the 'Jalur Gemilang' when it only costs less than RM2 each for the small ones.

"Whenever I see torn flags anywhere, I feel hurtI feel pity for the flag because there are people who let obsolete flags to fly," said the army veteran of 25 years.

Every Malaysian should be proud to fly the 'Jalur Gemilang' at every building and house, not just in August but at all times, said the father of 11 children and 17 grandchildren.

He also plans to erect all state flags at his home and work said it was not easy to find flags of the other states.

"If I manage to get all those flags, I can die in peace," he said.