KUCHING: Treading on racial or religious issues especially for political gain is like walking among live land mines, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie.
“Malaysia is a plural society so if you are unlucky enough to step on one ‘mine’, you’d likely get blown up,” she said.
She commended Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for his statement on Tuesday (Sept 3) in which he said that the government would not compromise on any party which incites sensitive issues by spreading information which could jeopardise racial and religious harmony.
“I also agree that we cannot and must not spread lies. There must be a stop to this before it becomes a Malaysian culture,” she said.
Doris stated that the spreading of fake news and lies has become rampant as people perhaps feel that it is becoming acceptable to do so.
“Perhaps they think it is okay to spread fake news or lies like it is okay not to honour what was pledged on a manifesto during the last general election by certain parties. It is like: If the leaders can do it, why can’t we?” she said.
Doris said that leaders and authorities must actually lead, highlighting a “leadership by example” concept.
“No more flip-flopping, U-turns or fickle-mindedness. Deliver what is promised,” she said, adding that the people have voted for change and hence it was the duty and responsibility of the new government to follow through.
She opined that flip-flopping by “some PH leaders” if not checked and rectified would disintegrate Malaysia further.
As for fake news, she gave an example of fake news recently on social media which stated that August 31 is Malaysia Day or Malaysia Independence Day.
“Now, who do we blame here? No doubt it did not raise any racial and religious conflict but it surely reflected an ignorant society and the low level of literacy of most Malaysians,” Doris said.
“These Malaysians were made to believe this, perhaps through history books with a distorted history of Malaysia or via our education system over the years.
“How can it be Malaysia Independence Day when Malaysia was never colonised? How can it be Malaysia Day when Sarawak, Sabah and the federated Malaya states have different dates of becoming part of Malaysia?” she said.
Muhyiddin had said that there was a thin line between freedom of speech and words that incite hatred and violence.
Doris agreed with his words, adding that no one must cross this line, especially foreigners.
She expressed her full support for the Home Minister when he said that “the action that is taken must be fair, regardless of who the individual is or the background of the person who plays up sensitive issues to create chaos in the country”.
“There is no immunity for anyone and there should not be selective prosecution, too. If you are wrong, you are wrong,” she said.
