Flag blunder puts Malaysia basketball boss in trouble

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s basketball chief has taken indefinite leave after an incorr­e­ct version of the national fla­g was displayed at a youth tour­nament, sparking nationwide outrage, accusations of “be­t­rayal” and even a police probe.

The angry response echoes the heated reactions seen after similar gaffes at international events, but it’s rare for such an incident to cause problems at an entirely domestic tournament.

The faulty flag was displayed on a screen in a Kuala Lumpur stadium at the opening of an under-15 national basketball tournament at the weekend. It featured a five-pointed star, while the official flag has a star with 14 points. It also had only 10 stripes, instead of the usual 14.

Social media exploded with outrage, while the education minister slammed the blunder as a “betrayal to our nationalism” and police hauled in basketball chief Lua Choon Hann for questioning. With little sign of anger abating, the MBA announced Thursday that Lua was going on indefinite leave as he felt he was “ultimately responsible”.