POLITICAL analysts say there is nothing wrong with Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) move to use a different National Day logo and theme for state-level celebrations as has been done before. 

They referred to decisions by state governments under Pakatan Rakyat in 2012 to use National Day themes and logos differing from that of the federal administration.

Former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ahmad Atory Hussain said it was not an issue and PN was not violating any law.

“Independence Day themes and slogans are not in the national or state laws that require them to be the same (between federal and state).

“It’s not really wrong unless PN wants to use a different flag than the Jalur Gemilang or they don’t want the national anthem of the country to be played.

“If they do that, it’s wrong because that is enshrined in the law, but not the slogan and theme of Independence Day,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

On Saturday, PN Youth Leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the four states under the coalition – Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu – may use other National Day themes and logos.

He introduced a logo based on a hibiscus with five petals and four colors of the Jalur Gemilang, carrying the theme “Strong Consensus for a Prosperous Malaysia”.

Fadhli also said the different logos and themes were only suggestions and it was up to the four states whether they would use them.

His proposal was, however, strongly criticised by government leaders such as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who described Fadhli as “crazy” for politicising National Day celebrations.

This year’s theme for national-level celebrations is “Malaysia Madani: Unity Determined to Fulfill Hope”, which uses the Malaysia Madani logo.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau said he had objected to the proposal to use an alternate Independence Day logo and theme in the four PN-led states.

The PN deputy chairman said the issue should not be politicised and the opposition should not be seen as doing that.

Lau said he raised an objection during a PN central leadership meeting.

Yesterday, the Terengganu government said it would not be using the alternative National Day logo and theme as proposed by the coalition’s youth wing.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the state would be going with Putrajaya’s Malaysia Madani theme.

“For us in Terengganu, we will be using the same logo as the federal (government),” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Samsuri stressed that state governments set the themes for Merdeka celebrations at the state level.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Atory felt this issue was a small matter and should not be argued about.   

“There are many more big issues that the central government needs to focus on.

“The state of the country is now in confusion related to the stability of this unity government, so don’t complicate the situation with unnecessary issues,” he said.

Azmi Hassan from the Nusantara Strategic Research Academy did not find PN’s proposal surprising as the theme chosen by the federal government was anchored in the Madani Malaysia concept that the unity government was promoting.

“We know that Madani’s concept is a unity government concept linked to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“So, it’s not surprising, not to mention after the state election, PN is quite strong in the states they govern,” he said.

In the last state elections, PN strengthened its position in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.  PN also governs Perlis after wresting the state from Barisan Nasional in the last general election. 

Azmi also thinks that the theme proposed by PN Youth is more neutral and not linked to political ideology.

The spirit of federalism

Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said in the spirit of federalism, PN should just follow the National Day theme used by the central government.

“For me, they should just follow.  Why should there be a difference, since we are celebrating the independence of Malaya.”

In 2012, the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat formed by PKR, DAP, and PAS rejected the theme and logo of “Promises Fulfilled” used by the central government under BN.

Anwar, the coalition’s chairman then, said using different themes and logos did not divide the people. 

Following that, Kelantan used the theme “Leading Change”; Kedah used “Continue Serving”, and both Penang and Selangor used “Sebangsa, Senegara, Sejiwa”.

In 2022, Selangor, which is governed by Pakatan Harapan, did not use the theme and logo of the National Day celebrations at the federal level. 

The Selangor theme at the time was “Kita Selangor Strong Together” while the central government under former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob used the theme “Malaysian Family Strong Together”. – August 21, 2023.