THE largest Sarawak flag affixed to the controversial RM30 million flagpole, tallest in the state and country, was blown into the Sarawak River in Kuching yesterday.

The flag, measuring 25m long and 12m tall, was blown away by strong winds during stormy weather yesterday evening.

The Kuching North City Hall said the flag was dislodged and blown away by strong winds into the Sarawak River.

“It was salvaged from the river last night around 11pm and was replaced by a new flag,” the City Hall management said.

The 99-m high flagpole was dubbed the tallest flag monument in the state and country.

Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had said it is also the tallest flagpole in Southeast Asia.

Politicians from the opposition parties and Sarawakians had slammed the Gabungan Parti Sarawak state government for wasting such a huge amount of money on a flagpole.

Abang Johari, however, defended the project as a new tourism icon for Sarawak.

He said the flagpole was sponsored by the private sector and that the state had only prepared the site for the flagpole.

The flagpole is located on the banks of the Sarawak River near the state assembly complex. – September 3, 2024.