PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man stepped up pressure over the incident, saying that Putrajaya must not normalise such matters and assume that the matter had been settled with a mere apology.

He added that the opposition would not be let off the hook if they had organised such an event.

The controversy had arisen after a group of people were seen waving China’s national flag during a parade near the Leaning Tower in Teluk Intan last week.

The Guan Gong temple chairman Soon Boon Hua later apologised, saying the Chinese flags were displayed by China nationals who attended the festival, and had not been planned by the organisers.

Yesterday, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad said it is not unusual for foreign citizens to wave their national flags when abroad, but it would be an offence for any Malaysian to fly a foreign flag at a local event.

However, Tuan Ibrahim said the flag-waving incident was the latest in a series of events that created unease among Malaysians, especially the Malays.

He said the unease was exacerbated by the response of DAP leaders, who downplayed the flag-waving issue by saying it was an isolated matter.

Tuan Ibrahim said: “PAS is standing behind the party’s Perak commissioner, Razman Zakaria, as well as the likes of Bersatu, the Umno Youth chief, MCA and several NGOs who have condemned the disrespectfulness.”

Razman, who was among 300 people who took part in a counter-demonstration last night, accused the government of failing to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

Police said statements would be taken from those who took part in the rally, organised by the opposition and a coalition of NGOs, for failing to notify the authorities beforehand.