Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticised the party’s youth wing for desecrating the Japanese flag in front of the Japanese embassy as a protest for Japan’s refusal to allow Anwar enter the country.

Anwar said although the wing had every right to protest, there was no need to disrespect the flag.

“I agree with the Youth wing’s rights to protest against the Japanese government’s decision. But I do not agree with several of their actions including stepping on the Japanese flag, which I felt was unnecessary,” he said at a press conference held at PAS headquarters, Wednesday.

The PKR Youth wing had protested in front of the Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday as a protest against Japan for not allowing Anwar to enter the country on Sunday.

They have also submitted a memorandum to the embassy to explain and apologise over the matter.

Japanese immigration officials stopped Anwar at the Narita International Airport on Sunday at 6.45am and was told to take the first flight back or face deportation.

Left with no choice, he then took the 10.45am flight back home.

Anwar said he went to Japan upon invitation from Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa to present a paper.

Foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had later said that Putrajaya was not involved in the issue.