Freedom of expression should not come at the expense of respect for the Rukun Negara

 

Letter to Editor

I REFER to the viral post in which the Rukun Negara was used as a prop for mockery.

Malaysia is a diverse country, and with that diversity naturally comes different views, beliefs and forms of expression. Criticism, satire and artistic expression all have their place in a democratic society.

But there is a line between questioning institutions and ridiculing the very principles intended to hold our nation together.

The Rukun Negara was conceived as a shared national foundation, providing common ground for Malaysians of every race, religion and background. That common ground matters.

We cannot continually speak about national unity, mutual respect and social harmony while simultaneously treating the principles that underpin those ideals as material for ridicule.

This does not mean the Rukun Negara should be beyond discussion. Thoughtful debate is healthy in any democracy. But there is a clear distinction between engaging critically with our national principles and deliberately trivialising what they represent.

Freedom of expression is important, but it should also be exercised with a sense of responsibility.

That responsibility becomes even greater for public figures, performers and content creators whose platforms allow their words and actions to reach large audiences.

At the same time, the response to offensive expression must itself remain measured, proportionate and firmly grounded in law. Defending respect for national principles should never become a justification for disproportionate action.

There is therefore a simple standard worth preserving: criticise freely, but do not trivialise the very foundation that allows us to live together as a nation.

The Rukun Negara belongs to every Malaysian. Whatever our race or religion, it deserves to be approached with seriousness, respect and dignity.

Darshan Singh
Kuala Lumpur

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT

- Focus Malaysia.