State secretary explains TMJ's directive on Jalur Gemilang

What the Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, said about taking down the Jalur Gemilang flags in Johor refers to the flags used for the National Day celebrations and not the Jalur Gemilang hoisted on flagpoles, said State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim.

Ismail denied the allegations and speculations of some who associated Tunku Ismail's instruction to take down the Jalur Gemilang flags after the National Day celebrations had ended and to replace it with the district flags, meant that Johor wanted to be out of Malaysia.

"It is difficult for Johor to leave Malaysia because the process is long and cumbersome. We have also agreed to work together with the Federal government," he told reporters at the main meeting room, Kota Iskandar, Tuesday.

Ismail said this when commenting on an official letter from the Segamat district office recently, instructing all Jalur Gemilangs to be replaced by district flags. This letter had gone viral online, evoking various reactions and views on the possibility that Johor wanted to leave Malaysia.

Explaining further, he said Tunku Ismail was referring to the small flags used to mark the National Day celebrations and not the Jalur Gemilang hoisted on flagpoles in schools, government offices and official departments in the state.

Ismail also advised the public to refer first to the state government in the event any issues arose.

In the letter, TMJ was rumoured to have said that all the Jalur Gemilang flags were to be taken down immediately and be replaced with each district flag.

Johor has 10 administrative districts, each assigned with their own district-level flags which will soon be gazzetted.