AI errors over Malaysia’s Jalur Gemilang flag spark national pride and controversy

Recent inaccuracies in the national flag’s depiction have upset the public, where even small errors are seen as national insults

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Giant Malaysian national flags are seen inside a shopping mall ahead of Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuala Lumpur in September 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 12:30pm, 27 Apr 2025

The Malaysian flag, known as the Jalur Gemilang or Stripes of Glory, is a highly respected symbol of national unity, but has recently been embroiled in controversies due to inappropriate representations, prompting public backlash and an apology from a government ministry.

This revered symbol knits together a multiethnic nation with various fault lines and is proudly displayed in homes, classrooms, and government buildings.

However, it is also a source of contention.

Recently, botched depictions of the flag by a newspaper and a ministry have struck a nerve among the public, for whom even a missing crescent or an extra star is more than just an error, and is perceived as a serious affront to the nation itself.

The flag’s intricate design and precisely defined elements have proven too complex for generative artificial intelligence (AI), which has faced criticism for producing flawed versions.

On Thursday, Malaysia’s education ministry issued an apology after publishing an AI-generated image of a classroom that displayed the Malaysian flag with not one, but two crescent moons.

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