Pusat Komas moots 'National Harmony Commission'

 

Civil society group Pusat Komas has urged the government to set up a National Harmony Commission as an independent body dedicated to addressing racial and religious tensions, fostering understanding, and promoting long-term social cohesion.

In a statement, it said the commission should be included as part of a broader national agenda to enhance social cohesion and break cycles of division.

“Such a commission would provide consistent and meaningful solutions in addressing inter-community conflicts, while acting as an advisory body to the government to ensure that educational and restorative measures are prioritised over punitive responses,” said the group.

Their call was made in response to the recent actions of three presenters from the Era radio station, whose mimicry of Thaipusam customs sparked heated debates between Muslims and Hindus.

Pusat Komas noted the public apology issued by the trio - Azad Jasmin, Nabil Ahmad, and Radin Amir Affendy - but stressed that their actions were not new.

Era radio presenters

“Time and time again, we have witnessed public figures, media personalities, politicians, and individuals engaging in actions that ridicule, belittle, and weaponise the customs of various communities.

“The responsibility also heavily falls upon Era to be aware of and moderate insensitive content such as this from being released to the public domain.

“Consequently, these actions empower persons like Zamri Vinoth and other netizens to perpetuate even more hateful rhetoric, fanning the flames of hatred further,” said Pusat Komas.

At the same time, the group also noted ongoing investigations under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“While legal action may serve as a deterrent, it does not address the root cause of such incidents.

“The lack of systemic efforts to foster genuine understanding between communities and the selective application of laws in response to public outrage does little to prevent future occurrences or promote meaningful change,” stressed the group.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reminded all parties to refrain from taking advantage of current issues involving religious mockery to further incite racial sentiments or sow seeds of hatred. - Mkini