Act against those fanning racial, religious sentiments, govt told

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the authorities to watch out for any attempt to ‘fan the flames of hatred’ among Malaysians.

PETALING JAYA: An academic has called for strict application of available laws to protect the government from attempts to fan racial and religious sentiments against it as six states prepare for elections to their legislative assemblies.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said he believed the government was reluctant to use laws against such rhetoric because it was anxious to show that it was committed to openness.

He referred to a recent tweet in which political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania speculated that in the run-up to the state polls, Perikatan Nasional might use the following four narratives against the government:

Ads by Kiosked

• LGBT is spreading under the unity government;
• Christianity is spreading while Islam is under threat;
• Malays are losing power; and
• The corruption charges brought against Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin is political persecution.

Awang Azman said such rhetoric was already becoming prevalent and added that the government must, “before it’s too late”, enforce laws to combat them.

“For example, the use of issues related to race, religion and the royal institution should be prohibited following the dissolution of the state legislatures,” he told FMT.

He said such issues were already being raised and might get amplified to “a more extreme level“ by those seeking political mileage.

Chin, speaking to FMT, said: “The government must deliver on making Malaysia more prosperous economically to show that a multiracial government works and that it does not harm the interests of the Malays or Muslims along the way.”

Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah will hold their state elections this year.

Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a warning against the sowing of racial or religious hatred, saying he had instructed the authorities to be on the watch for any attempt to “fan the flames of hatred” among Malaysians.

Ads by Kiosked

Anwar’s statement came in the wake of a police investigation into blogger Badrul Hisham Shaharin over his Facebook post linking an agency under the youth and sports ministry to Christian evangelism. - FMT