#MZB365: Let’s fight hatred with grace daily

 

 We, civil society and media organisations, join forces to call upon all Malaysians to fight ethno-religious hate speech and provocations with grace every day.

We call upon all to embrace the practice of seeking and giving forgiveness (“maaf zahir batin”) to the next level.

This practice is a teaching in Islam and also other faiths such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, and the natives of Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.

Let’s make seeking and giving forgiveness an all-year-long practice, not limited to the Aidilfitri festival and the month of Syawal, but from the first day of Muharam to the last day of Zulhijjah – from Jan 1 to Dec 31 - 365 days a year.

Let’s make this #MZB365 movement a success because as humans, we make trespasses and mistakes every day, therefore we have to be aware of them, seek forgiveness daily, and be prepared to forgive too.

If we are reluctant to seek forgiveness, then the harms we have caused - intended or not, due to bad deeds or misjudgements, big or small – will stay and destroy ties between each other.

Seeking forgiveness and forgiving others can happen between husband and wife; children and parents; students, parents, and teachers; neighbours; and colleagues; between strangers whose paths cross each other’s; between individuals who break laws and society; and different communities.

When we forgive, this does not mean we have become weaker and unwittingly encourage more trespasses and mistakes.

It is certainly not about compromising the rule of law. When the trespasses are legal offences, the offenders must still face trial and punishment.

Pardoning and commuting of sentences only happen when the convict is aware of their faults, admits guilt, makes restitution, and/or strives not to repeat the trespass.

To forgive those who sincerely seek forgiveness actually strengthens us and society as a whole. It brings peace, reduces misunderstanding, eliminates hatred, and strengthens ties between people who are created differently so that we understand each other better from our differences.

Promoting the seeking and giving of forgiveness is more important than ever because some individuals and groups are seeking opportunities to divide our society for their political, business, and personal interests.

They find faults that can be amplified to sow distrust and hatred so they can emerge as their community’s heroes to the point that some even break the law through arson and violence.

Hatred destroys nations, people

The phenomenon of populism built on hatred and conspiracy theories has paralysed countries, destroyed societies, damaged economies, starved children, sunk dreams, and even killed people in many parts of the world. We must make sure Malaysia does not follow in their footsteps.

Where laws have been violated, the rule of law must be upheld without compromise. Where minds have been deceived by propaganda and lies, truth and logical thinking must be upheld.

And there is no better antidote than grace, which may strengthen ties, reduce hatred, build trust, and defeat those who want to exploit circumstances.

Malaysians are capable of rising to the occasion before the toughest challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we had the #KitaJagaKita movement.

To counter ethnoreligious hatred, let us organise #MZB365. Let us fight hatred with grace every day. Join and make this movement a success.

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Participating NGOs

• Projek Sama

• Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)

• Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

• G25

• Architect of Diversity (AOD)

• Muslim Professional Forum (MFP)

• Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (ACCIN)

• Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

• Ideas

• Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot)

• Pure Life Society

• Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM)

• Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia

- Mkini