A recent incident involving the display of the Malaysian and Singaporean flags side by side has sparked controversy online. Despite their shared history and cultural similarities, there are certain boundaries that must be respected between Malaysia and Singapore, especially regarding national symbols.

In a brief 6-second video posted on Reddit on August 11, the Malaysian flag was seen hung beside several Singaporean flags outside a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat. This incident occurred during the same weekend that Singapore was celebrating its 59th year of independence. While the flags in the lower units included the Malaysian flag, units higher up displayed only the Singaporean flag.

The video quickly went viral after being reshared on TikTok by thesgdaily, drawing significant attention and sparking curiosity about the location of the HDB flat, which was later identified as somewhere in Yishun by thesgdaily. Some viewers questioned the authenticity of the video, but thesgdaily maintained that it appeared genuine.

On Reddit, the original poster humorously suggested that Malaysia and Singapore were celebrating their independence together, referencing the proximity of their independence days Malaysia on August 31 and Singapore on August 9. However, the poster's account has since been suspended.

Many netizens expressed their disapproval, viewing the display of both flags together as a significant act of disrespect. According to Singapore Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949, it is illegal to publicly display any foreign flag or national emblem without permission. Violators can face a fine of up to S$500 (approximately RM1,600), imprisonment for up to six months, or both.