{
  "id": 3923314,
  "title": "Perak MCA takes responsibility, staff member resigns over flag error",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/perak-mca-takes-responsibility-staff-member-resigns-over-flag-error",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T08:38:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1520720/perak-mca-takes-responsibility-staff-member-resigns-over-flag-error"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IPOH: Perak MCA has acknowledged full responsibility for the error of displaying the national and Perak state flags upside down, which gained widespread attention today. The staff member responsible for installing the flags resigned immediately upon noticing the mistake. Perak MCA Chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon stated that the party views the incident seriously and has apologized to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, and the Malaysian public. Both flags were promptly taken down and reinstalled correctly. Dr Mah Hang Soon emphasized that the incident occurred this morning when an employee at the Perak MCA headquarters made an unintentional error during National Month celebrations. Police officers from the Ipoh District Police Headquarters arrived at the Perak MCA office around 1pm to investigate and gather statements from the staff member and the administrative officer. Perak MCA has pledged full cooperation with the authorities in connection to the incident. The staff member expressed regret and voluntarily resigned, and the Perak MCA headquarters accepted the resignation out of respect for his decision. He has served the party with dedication for many years. The organization will manage matters arising from this incident appropriately.",
  "summary": "IPOH: Perak MCA has taken full responsibility for the mistake of putting up the Jalur Gemilang and Perak state flag upside down, which went viral today, with the staff member involved resigning with immediate effect.",
  "key_points": [
    "Perak MCA acknowledges full responsibility for flag error",
    "Staff member resigns after noticing upside-down flags",
    "Flags taken down and correctly reinstalled"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Staff member has resigned over flag gaffe, says MCA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/staff-member-has-resigned-over-flag-gaffe-says-mca",
        "published": "2026-08-28T09:21:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "SNAPSHOT | Elderly staff quits over inverted flag gaffe; 'blue' Sg Perak water safe for general use - activist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/snapshot-elderly-staff-quits-over-inverted-flag-gaffe-blue-sg-perak",
        "published": "2026-08-28T10:08:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}