Sang Saka Malaya became the central point in the national flag controversy that had arisen around the 56th anniversary of Malaysia's independence in 2013. It was brought by the delegates of PKMM, led by Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy, to the Asian Regional Conference held at the end of 1947 in New Delhi, India. However, Angkatan Muda Keadilan (PKR Youth) leader, Najwan Halimi has claimed he was the designer of a similar flag carried by supporters of Himpunan Janji Demokrasi in 2007. The 2007 design red-white flag features the crescent moon and a star with 11 vertices, whilst the Sang Saka Malaya design announced on
Besi Merah Putih de Sousa, an East Timorese in support of the Indonesian rule over East Timor. During the months leading up to the East Timorese people voting for independence, the "BMP" held absolute control over the areas surrounding Liquica, as well as the town itself. In March 1999, international observers serving in Liquica, including several American police officers serving with the International Police (but at that time as unarmed observers) issued a report that read "The Besi Merah Putih surround a Carmelite convent in Maubara, some 60 km west of Dili yesterday and remain in place today. The militia threatened 'to kill