Voices of reason stand out amidst social media madness

 More such Malaysians, irrespective of their race, must tell their stories to dispel the notion that national unity has gone to the dogs.

Amidst the social media rant on race and religion that is tearing the nation apart, one post by a Malay netizen stood out.

More than that, scores of those who responded spoke on their own inter-racial harmony experiences, giving hope that there still is a level of sanity that keeps the nation intact.

The post on Thread shared by the handle called ridhwansalimi was just a simple story of honesty displayed by a Grab driver whom he referred to as “an Indian uncle”. The action, he said, showed that Malaysians should not judge a community based on the actions of a few.

The netizen said he had left his belongings in the car just when the traffic from the airport was chaotic. He quickly called the Grab driver who responded and found his items.

“The Indian uncle raced through the heavy traffic and came back to return the item. I have had similar experiences in the past. This shows we cannot judge a whole community based on isolated incidents,” he wrote.

Heartwarming indeed at a time when the debate on Zamri Vinoth  and his ilk’s relentless push against the so-called illegal Hindu temples has turned the social media platform into a war zone. It is heartbreak to see some citizens being abused and treated like they never belonged in the country.

Ridhwansalimi’s post opened the floodgates. Scores of other Malaysians, mostly Malays, spoke of how they had good friends from the other races. Many said their experiences with Grab drivers of other races stood out, their conversations focused on the daily struggles to support their families.

One Malay Grab driver even pointed out that his Indian and Chinese passengers were the biggest tippers.

There were posts from Chinese and Indian Malaysians who wrote of their solid relationships with Malay neighbours and their friends going back decades. Some Hindus even took their own kind to task, saying their indiscretion is the source of the problem.

This, to me, is the reality on the ground today.

Then there was another viral clip of a tudung-clad Malay woman at the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia opthalmology department. Seeing that there were many elderly patients having difficulty making payments as only online payments were accepted, she stepped in.

She stood at the counter using her bank cards to pay for those facing difficulties, irrespetive of their racial origin.

These actions are contrary to the extremely provocative and confrontational statements by politicians on social media that have painted a gloomy picture of inter-racial ties in the country.

It is the politicians and irresponsible activists from all races who appear to be making statements that draw irresponsible comments on social media. They are using acts such as the vandalising of religious symbols and attacks on community activists as political fodder.

Social media has become a platform for discussions on sensitive racial and religious issues.

In the process, some of them also resort to racist comments that tend to hurt their fellow citizens. Every Malaysian, irrespective of race, is guilty of this.

In their defence, they claim they were responding to others insulting their race. This should not be the case as there would be no end to such exchanges if this sort of tit-for-tat replies continue. Malaysians of all races are guilty of this.

There have also been significant comments from non-Malays who actually plead for tolerance and understanding, saying all they want is to be able to pray peacefully in their houses of worship.

They are not interested in bringing in the Hindutva idelogy which is used as a weapon by politicians in India. This allegation by a prominent mufti is absolute rubbish. It would be insane for any Malaysian to even think of this.

Most just prefer to take their chosen path to the Almighty, for the spiritual and moral support essential to keeping them focussed on building their families and the nation. They want nothing more than what they deserve as taxpaying citizens.

The Malaysian police have warned against provocative content that could worsen ethnic tensions, highlighting the precarious balance the nation must maintain to ensure harmony among its diverse population.

But obviously, many appear not to be listening. A recent post on Facebook actually warned Malaysians of another May 13, a term used to describe the nation’s worst racial riots that took place on the date in 1969.

Seeing that the post was outrageously seditious, I took it upon myself to send the nasty clip to home minister Saifuddin Nasution and deputy inspector general of police Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay. Ayob Khan responded with an acknowledgement.

Remember, social media users have gone out of control despite several measures taken by the government.

So, the challenge lies in how Malaysians of all races and background navigate these sensitive issues without stoking the fire, whether it be those posting inflammatory comments or others who respond to these posts.

To be able to achieve this wisdom, educational programmes that focus on multiculturalism and the importance of racial harmony must be seriously implemented.

Schools can play a pivotal role in teaching students about the value of diversity and mutual respect. There must be one period a day devoted to developing social skills in a multi-cultural country.

Establish clear legal mechanisms to address hate speech and incitement to violence on social media. This can help deter individuals from posting inflammatory content and promote accountability.

Let’s protect the peace we have achieved over more than six decades, just as we protect our paycheck. Let this be the Hari Raya wishes of all Malaysians. - FMT

 The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.