It takes a village: The generous act of Ladang Bikam villagers, who recently helped some Hari Raya revellers to beat the balik kampung jam with a shortcut through the plantation (below), touched the hearts of social media users. — Sinar Harian

FEW stories warm the heart quite like our plural society coming together for the greater good.

Usually, these acts of kindness go unnoticed and unreported because they’re expected. But truth be told, we know this is a commodity.

And as with true generosity, these good folks don’t do it for publicity.

It was a week ago when the media reported on a group of Chinese villagers answering the call of travellers using back roads to avoid the nationwide snarl following the end of the Hari Raya holidays.

Commuter Zairul Annuar Zain, relying on Google Maps, thought his smartphone would solve his problem by getting off the highway while heading south. Unfortunately, he found himself on an isolated path in Ladang Bikam, Perak, instead.

Several cars explored the same off-the-beaten-track route, but the journey soon became bumpier because of the bad, hilly road conditions.

Enter a group of 15 Chinese men who approached the stranded vehicles and told the passengers to wait while they set to work.

Armed with a backhoe to excavate and level the road, they managed to ensure the path was flat enough for the vehicles to pass through within 15 minutes.

— Video Screengrab from Zairul Annuar’s FB

“They could have chosen to sleep. Instead, they were willing to take the trouble to help us continue our journey there that night,” said Zairul, who recorded a video of the helpful villagers.

We’re indebted to Zairul for sharing the incident – which went viral – on his Facebook. It’s perfect timing because the nation desperately needs an endearing story, and in the month of Syawal with the nation still celebrating Hari Raya, no less.

Then, there was another wonderful video of a young Chinese man embracing his adopted Malay mother on Hari Raya.

Despite looking very different from the rest of the brood, and knowing he was adopted, the emotional man expressed his gratitude to his mum for raising him and treating him like she did his siblings.

In the last month, Malaysia has been gripped by disconcerting reports, a situation exacerbated by agitating and provoking politicians and netizens. Their insensitive comments on social media have certainly broken our hearts.

That said, there are many unsung heroes in Malaysia, too. These are the people who dedicate their lives to helping their countrymen without deliberating one’s skin colour or religion, and they ask for nothing in return.

Star Media Group and Gamuda Bhd have worked together for nearly 10 years to recognise and reward the kindness with the Star Golden Hearts Award. Our task gets harder with greater competition and nominees becoming more impressive every year. The nominations are submitted to the judges and as chief judge, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, says Malaysia is never short of unsung heroes.

Like when insurance agent Abdul Muhsi Ramlan saw teenager Teh Rui Yuan lying motionless next to his motorbike after an accident and instinctively stopped to help.

He acted fast and asked onlookers to help him load the 17-year-old boy into his car before rushing to the hospital. There, he admitted the boy and even extended himself by trying to get in touch with the teenager’s parents through social media.

Teh eventually recovered and visited Abdul Muhsi with his family after that year’s Hari Raya with a hamper in hand, not only to register their gratitude but mark the festive occasion as well.

“When I saw his face, I just wanted to save him,” said Abdul Muhsi when recalling the accident, revealing that they are still in touch to this day.

Of course, there’s also the heart melting story of one of 2016’s Star Golden Hearts Award winner Mohd Yusuf Rohani caring for diabetic friend R. Doraisamy for four decades.

They are neither related nor from the same cultural background, but none of that matters to them.

The pair met in Ladang Selabak, Perak, when Mohd Yusuf was a Standard Three student and Doraisamy a 28-year-old odd job worker with failing eyesight. Although 19 years separate them, a friendship was forged in which Mohd Yusuf has dedicated himself to helping his friend after learning of his health issues.

Over the years, Doraisamy not only lost his sight, but the lower half of both limbs, too, due to his illness.

“It may be difficult, but I don’t see it as a burden at all because he can’t see, and he has no legs. Who would take care of him if I’m not around to do it?” argues Mohd Yusuf.

His care of Doraisamy runs the gamut of financial aid to cleaning the older friend after his bathroom runs. They may both struggle to make ends meet, but hardship has fused them together for life. From his primary school days through to his marriage and birth of six daughters, Mohd Yusuf has remained resolute in helping his friend, who lives with his younger sister and her husband.

Friendships like these may seem strange, but compassion and kindness cut across all boundaries. After all, it’s the giving that makes us what we are.

Having been involved in the selection process for Golden Hearts before, I can vouch that most Malaysians are compassionate.

From a Chinese-speaking Malay fireman who used his linguistic skills to coax a woman from jumping off her flat, to nurses, doctors and helpers who risked their lives to care for Malaysians during the Covid-19 pandemic, there are many such stories.

There are also groups of youngsters who sacrifice their Saturday nights to distribute food to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur. No one is ignored and no questions are asked either.

As Lee said, the fact that they have been nominated by so many Malaysians vividly attests to the recognition of their good work.

Then, there are caregivers who voluntarily work to help the elderly and disabled, too.

These are tedious jobs which require immeasurable patience and dedication, and again, these volunteers have never asked for coverage to bask in social media glory.

Some are mere individuals while others belong to non-governmental organisations with greater manpower, but the bottom line is, they’ve positively impacted all of us in Malaysia through their commitment.

Let’s be honest, many of us have grown tired and weary, and even given up on our country, going as far as to encourage overseas based friends and family to remain there for a brighter future.

However, the stories above serve to remind us that Malaysia is truly unified, barring egotistical and selfish politicians whose vocabulary barely extends beyond the word boycott.

In truth, it’s us who should turn away from them. Although race and religion routinely take the rap, the world is ultimately divided into good and bad people.

The “Maaf Zahir Batin Hari Hari” campaign (#MZB365), launched on April 6, is also promoting heartwarming tales of unity in Malaysia. The campaign stands strong with support from major media corporations and civil society organisations. Check out the stories on TheStar.com.my.

Stepping in: Sultan Ibrahim took the lead in addressing the ‘Allah socks’ issue by meeting with (from left) Dr Akmal, Mohamad Hasan, Abdul Rauf, and Liew to de-escalate increasing tension. — Photo from Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook account

HIS Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, starts his day early at Istana Negara. He’s ready for his audience from 9am sharp.

That means he’s already in the meeting room – a modest one with only a long table – by then.

These sessions are short and effective, with his officials seated close by to dutifully take notes.

On April 1, among the early guests at the palace was Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki.

With his honeymoon period now behind him, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong handed a jar of honey from Saudi Arabia to the graft fighter as a symbolic gesture.

“As I have previously stressed, my honeymoon is over, now go and catch the bees,” the King said during their 30-minute audience.

This was the King declaring that the war against corruption had begun. Be scared because no one will be spared.

In fact, a few weeks ago, the MACC arrested 34 Customs officers assigned to KL International Airport Cargo in connection with smuggling activities that are believed to have resulted in leakage of RM2bil of the country’s revenue over the past two years.

Most Malaysians believe that this has been happening for much longer because the culprits have been operating with impunity.

Around the same time, a senior policeman was arrested for alleged bribery, having more than RM1.2mil stashed away in several locations. The cop and a colleague are believed to have accepted bribes to protect illicit activities in Kuala Lumpur, including gambling, prostitution, and gangsterism.

Again, surely there can’t be just two policemen involved in corruption of such industrial scale, and would the MACC be able to cast its net wider to catch more big fish than small fry?

Four civil servants were also nabbed for suspected bribery of over RM5bil from a tobacco, cigarette and alcohol smuggling syndicate via the country’s gateways.

Then there are the illegal gaming operators who deprive the government of RM5bil in tax revenue every year.

The fact that these operators, both physically and online, have been able to remain undetected certainly raises many questions. That’s surely a large haul.

Credit must go to the MACC as well as the Prime Minister for the assault on corruption, but it’s the King who is tirelessly loading the armaments.

He is very well-informed, with many whistleblowers readily providing him with information, but he verifies everything because there are always elements of jealousy and rivalry in government agencies and departments.

The King, who has made the fight against corruption one of his reign’s top priorities, is exceptionally passionate about getting rid of the scourge.

Malaysians are now surely aware that Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia’s 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, won’t be a mere ceremonial figurehead who reads out prepared texts.

He’s not afraid of voicing his views and last week, he showed what’s needed in Malaysia: true leadership.

The Johor Ruler called up fiery Umno Youth leader Dr Akmal Saleh, along with Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh, and DAP deputy secretary-general Liew Chin Tong.

The King rightly ended the contentious “Allah socks” issue, which had placed the country on tenterhooks.

Basically, the controversy had to be resolved because some of our politicians were reluctant and unprepared to be assertive in their stand, and instead preferred juggling with public sentiment to avoid losing Malay support.

They failed to see the wider context of the country’s unity, stability, and harmony, with some opting to remain silent.

In the absence of leadership, the King did what was needed. He stuck his hand in even though it wasn’t his job.

It worked because the recalcitrant Dr Akmal, who was arguably unknown until this issue, said he would obey the royal decree.

He might stop talking about the “Allah socks” issue, but it remains to be seen if he curtails his provocative behaviour since he’s bought into his 15 minutes of fame. Unfortunately for Malaysia, race and religion are always wielded as political weapons.

The King’s advice was simple: Maintain religious harmony and reduce polemics, as well as preserve the sanctity of Islam.

He also cautioned political leaders from engaging in extreme rhetoric when discussing religious and racial matters.

Sultan Ibrahim was very aware that the issue couldn’t be allowed to drag on into the Hari Raya celebrations which began this week.

But the police and security forces must also investigate potential attempts to undermine the PM and his government.

The religious and political rhetoric surrounding the “Allah socks” issue and the recent bomb attacks on two KK Super Mart outlets are very disturbing.

If politicians can’t be effective leaders, then we’ll have to depend more on our Rulers.

Comment with care: Social media should not be a no-holds barred war zone where no prisoners are taken. — 123rf

THE past few months have chronicled an alarming spike in hate content on social media.

If the provocative literature and videos seem bad, then the viewership count is far more unsettling because many comments are racist and seditious.

These hurtful comments are being read by people of other races and religions, but the netizens who post them do not care or do not realise they cause uneasiness and unhappiness.

Social media here has become a no-holds barred war zone where no prisoners are taken. Not even our respected and esteemed Rulers are spared, either.

Politicians have blatantly fanned racial flames in their despicable attempt to champion their communities. And as a sideshow, some preachers of different faiths are even competing to run down their own kind.

These converts have inaccurately portrayed their own races, and incited racial and religious anger in the process, whether intentional or otherwise.

They need to be stopped. If these extremists are not contained, it could jeopardise the harmony among Malaysians.

Regrettably, the police haven’t been convincing. There’s surely no need for a police report to filter through before this recalcitrant flock gets called up for questioning, or even be remanded to let their hot heads cool off.

If nothing happens, the police will only be inviting accusations of incompetence in dealing with those who have threatened race relations.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is working overtime to remove offensive, insulting and excessively provocative postings on social media, but it needs the public’s support, too.

MCMC has warned it will not compromise on or tolerate the dissemination of incendiary comments following the “Allah” socks controversy. Since March 13 this year, 479 pieces of provocative and race, religion and royalty-related content have been taken down.

There are adequate laws in Malaysia to track down and punish violators, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), 1998, where offenders can be fined up to RM50,000 or face imprisonment for up to a year, or both.

Portal operators as well as social media account owners could be ignorant of the fact that they could potentially be charged for malicious comments left on their sites.

Most have not moderated their comment traffic or have just struggled to detach themselves from this disrespectful and hostile display of emotions because something likely resonates with them. Some careless users might just think these angry responses will help increase the number of followers of their sites.

In 2021, the Federal Court sentenced Malaysiakini’s operator Mkini DotCom Sdn Bhd to a fine of half a million ringgit for contempt over its facilitation of five readers’ remarks against the judiciary on the news portal’s website.

Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Rohana Yusuf delivered the majority decision by six judges for the fine of RM500,000 to be imposed and paid within three days of a Monday.

“In meting out the sentence that shall be imposed, we first consider the apology that has been extended by the respondent and the fact that the respondents had cooperated both with the police and the courts.

“Having said that, it is our public duty to bear in mind the seriousness of the contemptuous act today which will ultimately undermine the system of justice in this country.

“The impugned statements had gone both far and wide both locally and internationally and the contents published are spurious and reprehensible in nature and it also involves allegations of corruption which are all false and untrue.

“We are of the view that a fine in the sum of RM500,000 would be appropriate, so hereby an order for the fine by the first respondent to be paid within three days from Monday,” the judge said after the panel stood down to deliberate the sentencing.

Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Datuk Azahar Mohamed, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Datuk Sri Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, and Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli were the five other judges on the Federal Court panel which agreed with the RM500,000 fine imposed on Malaysiakini. However, Rohana and the five judges said that Malaysiakini’s editor-in-chief was not in contempt of court.

So, it’s time for the authorities, including the MCMC and police, to enforce accountability in the comments section.

If portal owners can’t manage their comments section, then they should just turn it off.

Sadly, digital media has degenerated to being the dumping site of hate content by those cloaked in anonymity and irresponsible with their sharing, obviously oblivious to the immediacy of online publishing.

Lawmakers, especially politicians, are reluctant to act for fear of appearing undemocratic and opposing freedom of speech.

However, the public is also against the authorities abusing regulations to suppress legitimate criticism.

The truth is, freedom of speech doesn’t amount to freedom to defame and preach hate and cause disunity, or even threaten national security.

Exemplarily, Britain has imposed a range of criminal prohibitions on hate speech, both online and in print.

Basically, our authorities can’t give the impression they’re responding too slowly to these online hate mongers or not acting fairly.

A concerted public campaign is desperately needed to remind users to desist from uploading or sharing destructive content related to race, religion, and the royal institution on social media, as well as text messaging applications.

There can simply be no compromise on public order and harmony, and they must always come first.

IT’S time Malaysians take a step back from the heat because some quarters simply can’t stop from fanning the flames of controversy surrounding socks bearing the word Allah. Just leave it to the authorities – they’ve got this blaze under control.

The seriousness of the issue is indisputable, and there must be retribution. The temperature on the ground is rising, especially among Muslims, which can only be the clearest call for everyone, especially non-Muslims, to grasp the significance of religious and racial sensitivity.

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has appropriately put things in perspective by reminding everyone to respect and appreciate the sensitivity of Malaysians.

Most importantly, it’s best for all concerned to learn from the incident and strive to strengthen unity. Also, Malaysia must realise that this incident has drawn international attention, from the media to the business community. It was reported in the Washington Post, BBC, Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

The disappointment and ire expressed by Muslims is understandable, but at least the situation is still under control. If this happened in Pakistan or India, the reactions might have been more violent and even deadly.

But this is Malaysia, and we’re known to be reasonable, gracious and restrained. Angry sound bites abound, especially on social media, where many of the comments have even been racist and seditious.

The issue has kept the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) busy. Those of us who’ve been critical of the MCMC would surely be pleased to know that it has responded to the seditious comments. Kudos to the MCMC for taking down 2,004 postings – since January 2023 – comprising hate speech touching on the 3Rs (royalty, religion and race), which could incite violence and discrimination. And since March 13, 479 provocative messages and 3R content have been removed, too.

MCMC has definitely done its part to retain the religious harmony of this country without catering to those who have gone overboard. It has duly done its work to shut out the extremists, agitators and provocateurs. We simply can’t entertain those who continue to be angry and impose their hatred at Malaysia’s expense.

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Suhaily Mohd Zain has rightly advised everyone to stand down and not pour fuel on the fire.

“Enough is enough. Let the police investigate and act on all issues relating to 3R,” he said.

While the police have been professional in their duties, it’s imperative they’re seen to be impartial.

If the perpetrators are not hauled up, then we’re sending a truly flawed message to everyone and worse, condoning and encouraging these hooligans to bully and humiliate anyone, especially non-Muslims, all in the name of race and religion.

The police must know the identities of these mobs, so it’s only appropriate that these individuals don’t escape the long arm of the law. A Molotov cocktail was hurled at a KK Super Mart outlet, but thankfully, it didn’t explode. On Friday, a KK Super Mart outlet in Kuantan was hit by a molotov cocktail. Meanwhile, a socks supplier was threatened with having its factory burned down.

Let’s not forget that Malaysia is a country with law and order.

While the KK Super Mart Group boss and director have been charged in court for intentionally wounding the religious sensitivities of Muslims by allegedly selling the socks, the retailer is also entitled to defend itself in court.

The prosecutors will try to prove that they have a case while it’s the job of the defence to rebut. Hopefully, clear CCTV footage will be produced in court to reveal the identity and intentions of those responsible for putting these offensive socks on the shelves of the KK Super Mart outlets.

The question is, why were only five such pairs found in three KK Super Mart stores from a consignment of 1,200?

We look forward to hearing the explanation, as well as why KK Super Mart’s checking system is faulty. We must respect the court’s decisions, so let’s not have another fit if we can’t accept the outcome.

The socks issue has spooked many businessmen, especially those from the Malaysian Retail Chain Association (MRCA), with more than 550 members from retail and restaurant businesses expressing fear of “malicious prosecution tactics” by certain quarters. Their concern is legitimate because they won’t want to be victims of sabotage.

When you run a business with hundreds of outlets and a huge staff, you’re vulnerable to someone potentially planting an offensive item and having it exposed on social media. You can then leave it to our trusty politicians and the public to whip up a frenzy of anger and calls for boycott.

No one wants a similar incident repeated with another round of apologies. By now, it’s conclusively clear that the Muslim halal market is huge and indispensable.

With almost 70% of the Malaysian demographic being Muslim, against a shrinking non-Muslim population, more and more industries want to be part of this important market.

Many businesses, whether retail or restaurants, especially those from public-listed companies, have shareholders, directors and top management comprising both Muslims and non-Muslims.

This is how it should be. In fact, it’s now a growing trend among private companies, or sendirian berhad, to have such eclectic compositions. In Malaysia, most of these outlets have staff comprising many Muslims. KK Super Mart, for example, has about 5,000 staff with almost 3,000 Muslims, including senior management.

While Umno Youth, or anyone else, is entitled to call for a boycott, they must realise that their actions will impact Muslim workers, too.

Likewise, McDonalds Malaysia is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Lionhorn Pte Ltd, and most of its staff are Muslims, but it has suffered badly following a boycott.The biggest casualties have been Muslim college students working part-time.

Starbucks Malaysia is owned by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and although he’s Chinese, he has immediate Muslim family members, too, and Starbucks staff are overwhelmingly Muslim as well.These Malaysian franchisees operate independently, and they are powerless over what happens in other countries.

However you slice it, there are many American products we use daily, even those invented by Israelis, which include our handphones and other appliances.

Let’s not forget there are also Americans who have invested in Malaysia, creating thousands of jobs here. We must be mindful that Malaysia can’t afford to lose its place in the international community. In calling for boycotts, we surely don’t want to be boycotted, too.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim walks a tightrope whenever he goes on trade missions overseas. The international media never lets him off. The Prime Minister is always pressed on our stand on Palestine and Israel, and while he has never wavered from our commitment to defend the Palestinians, he also must assure his audience that Malaysia is ideal for investment.

We live in a borderless world. Our actions and reactions will play out before a global audience, which will evaluate our handling of these issues and determine if it impacts their long-term investment.

Malaysia must assure foreign investors that this is a politically safe place. We have a democracy where everyone is free to voice their discontent, and even call for boycotts, but there’s also law and order, with no room for favouritism or mob rule, whether real or perceived. Forgiveness and moderation will always be a better approach than retaliation.

His Majesty has spoken loud and clear – persistent anger brings no benefits. All he wants is to guide the people towards unity, not division. Let’s build Malaysia, and not tear it down.

Hear, hear, hear. Daulat Tuanku!

Stern and commanding: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has reminded our Members of Parliament to behave and debate with maturity and self-restraint in the Dewan Rakyat. Looking on is Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. — Bernama

IT’S baffling how some of our politicians, be it the sincere or attention grabbers, are incessantly angry, agitated, provocative or intimidating. In the pursuit of realising their agendas, many ultimately embarrass themselves, and us.

Finesse seems to be in short supply, attested to by their behaviour during Parliament debates or outside the august House.

It surely isn’t asking too much for them, be they from either side of the bench, to hear all points of views concerned, and then argue their case in a calm, structured and collected way.

The powers of persuasion, confidence, resilience and measured tones should convincingly win arguments, so those are the best tools they could equip themselves with.

Shouting and animated gestures are unnecessary because there’s little value in adopting such uncouth behaviour.

Westminster quality debates, where clever discourse, and perhaps tempered with witty references even, aren’t expected, but there must be some form of maturity and self-restraint in cases presented in our Dewan Rakyat.

Despite the reminder by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, to our Members of Parliament to behave, these politicians are unlikely to take heed.

In his maiden address at the new session of Parliament recently, the King expressed hope for MPs to set a good example by maintaining decorum, adhering to regulations, being polite and refraining from hurling insults.

He also gave the green-light to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to penalise MPs who go overboard and even impose a 14-day ban if they remain stubborn.

Well, no one has crossed the line yet. Even the usual suspects, while still wanting to parade their machismo, have kept themselves in check… so far.

To be fair, sometimes the media must be blamed because the focus seems to be on a few recalcitrant individuals with their attention-craving antics.

Their more hardworking counterparts who deliver well-researched speeches calmly, get overlooked by the press.

So, until recently, some of our MPs have had little choice but to take to their social media platforms to broadcast their debates from Parliament, but the Dewan Rakyat Speaker has put a stop to this. Naturally, politicians are now clued in to the power of social media. They prefer to control the narrative to reach out to their targeted audience without reproach.

Along the way, now unfortunately the norm in Malaysia, some of our politicians have also failed to understand that if they push the race and religion narrative too hard, it will only come back to haunt them.

Whether it’s wielding a keris, sword or continually issuing inflammatory warnings and threats, video clips of these shenanigans will end up being used against them by their opponents.

Aspiring politicians should always remember that they need the support and votes of Malaysians of all races and religions. They should be Malaysian leaders espousing moderation and inclusivity rather than heroes of a single ethnic community and its beliefs.

Yes, it’s necessary to speak up and defend where necessary, but there are many approaches and methods. Agreed, it’s harder to bridge divides and unite people, but that’s the mark of a true leader.

Even PAS has realised that if it hopes to form the next federal government, the party needs to win over Sabah and Sarawak, and the votes of non-Muslims. Well, the endeavour will need to go beyond wishing Christians Merry Christmas and for its president, Tan Sri Hadi Abdul Awang, dressing in Chinese traditional wear during Chinese New Year.

But at least PAS finally realises that no political coalition can win Malaysia without the support of all races. It doesn’t work to be seen as an unflinching hero of the Malay, Chinese or Indian communities but then come the elections, take a different stance, and sing a different tune. The social media age simply won’t embrace this.

Likewise, DAP leaders have trouble earning the trust of most Malay voters simply because it has angered that community with questionable tones and messages in the past. It takes a long time to gain trust but a fleeting moment to destroy it.

A real leader leads and will not be led, and certainly will not drive the country into a frenzy. It’s utter irresponsible.

Holding back our temper, restraining ourselves, not overreacting and excessively pushing the limits have always proven to be the most beneficial approach. Moderation is certainly the way forward.

Some politicians are adept at getting people riled up, but what we really want is for them to come up with proper solutions for our economic problems, like the rising cost of living, weakening ringgit, boosting investments, making Malaysia competitive, improving our school and university systems, fighting corruption, and getting jobs for our graduates, among others.

Well, I’m a 63-year-old warga mas, so many younger aspiring politicians are surely uninterested in my ramblings because they may think they know better, but us senior citizens have simply experienced more.

If you’re made of stern stuff and are sincere, then be a leader and champion of all races, and not just one race and religion.

That’s exactly why we still remember and revere Tunku Abdul Rahman till today because he was Bapa Malaysia to us all. Now, that’s respect commanded and not demanded.

POLITICIANS and academics against vernacular schools are struggling to accept that Chinese primary schools have become more multiracial than some national schools.

They only need to see the process for themselves and talk to the parents, especially the non-Chinese, to find out why they’re sending their children to Chinese schools particularly.

This decision wouldn’t have been easy for these parents. For starters, they won’t be able to help their kids in their schoolwork if they can’t read or write Chinese.

Teachers in these schools are demanding and results oriented. It’s common for parents to be summoned if their children perform poorly in exams.

The benefit though, is parents are assured that their children will get a strong grounding in mathematics and science.

There’s another crucial reason why Chinese schools are popular – parents understand they need to invest in their kids to be sure they’re fluent in Mandarin since it’s an asset.

It’s not just Malay and Indian parents who understand this, but also Chinese parents who never went to Chinese schools and now realise their disadvantage when they need to deal with mainland Chinese.

I can name Umno politicians, Malay celebrities and government officials who have enrolled their children in Chinese schools.

They surely don’t expect these schools to be breeding grounds for racial extremism, as some ignorant and over-imaginative politicians like to assume.

The syllabus is, after all, approved by the Education Ministry, and the teachers are of various races. Also, Bahasa Malaysia and English are compulsory subjects.

After the six years of primary education, these students move on to national schools.

Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong, who has landed in hot water, probably assumed that Chinese and Tamil schools are mono-ethnic, like they used to be during his time. On the contrary, it’s national schools which are now more mono-ethnic. Yes, the truth can be stranger than fiction.

Even in 2020, according to statistics from Chinese education groups, non-Chinese pupils made up 19.87 % of the student population, an increase from 11.84% in 2010.

Then Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin had said Malays comprised 15.33% of the total student population in Chinese schools, compared to 9.5% in 2010. Meanwhile, Indian student enrolment rose to 2.75% of the total student population in 2020 versus 1.67% a decade ago. These figures are based on 1,200 Chinese primary schools and 523 Tamil primary schools.

“Due to the rising number of non-Chinese in these schools, the total number of ethnic Chinese has dropped to 80.25% this year (2020) from 88.16% in 2010,” said Putrajaya MP, Radin, of Bersatu.

Valuable asset: One of the reasons why Chinese schools are popular with parents of all races is that many want their children to be fluent in Mandarin. — Sin Chew Daily/ANN

The decline is also due to the shrinking Chinese population, with parents preferring to have only one or two kids.

These Chinese primary schools may one day see Malays and Indians dominating the enrolment!

I’m sure Prof Teo means well since he wants our schools to be filled with children of all races and religions. He has said that ethnic relations in Malaysia have remained poor because of multi-stream schools.

But if some quarters need to take the rap for poor race relations, then pin it on the politicians who continue to turn it into a twisted narrative. Prof Teo should call out these recalcitrant lawmakers instead.

Well, there used to be English-medium schools in Malaysia, which were viewed as the neutral ground for everyone.

Now, they exist in private and international schools where only more affluent families can afford to send their children to. They include many Malay political elites, of course.

Those who’ve opted for this expect their children to acquire a globally recognised education, and they believe an English-medium education will provide them a more liberal, open view of the world. Add to that the stronger chance of pursuing tertiary education in the United States or Britain.

It’s open to debate but Chinese schools are perceived as dogmatic and stringent, so some parents don’t want their kids’ world view to revolve around only China and Taiwan.

Prof Teo, currently under police investigation, is entitled to his views and actions of lodging police reports, but we don’t subscribe to his undemocratic idea.

There was nothing seditious in what he said compared to the shenanigans of other rabble rouser politicians.

Like Prof Teo, I’m what the Chinese-educated call a banana – one who is yellow on the outside, being Chinese, and white inside, denoting someone who subscribes to Western views.

I studied in a Catholic school for my primary and secondary education, so I never grasped reading Chinese or speaking Mandarin.

I studied Malay literature and Islamic history for my Sixth Form examinations, and at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, I enrolled in the Malay Letters Department during my first year.

My father comes from a Peranakan family, and likewise my grandparents and mother, who wears the sarong to this day.

Prof Teo and I have similar backgrounds, as he also taught in UKM, where, as a Kelantanese, he displayed a profound love for the Malay language.

But growing up in a thriving port like Penang, which provided greater exposure to diverse cultures, presumably made us different.

Much has changed in Malaysia, like the world itself. England is no longer an economic powerhouse. The power has shifted to China. Our young Malaysians, regardless of their race, must be able to speak in Mandarin if they want to remain competitive.

Senior citizens like Prof Yeo and myself surely must have wished that we, too, could speak the language fluently.

Likewise, our kids should be able to speak Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic and better still, Tamil and Hindi. A strong command of English remains imperative because it’s still an international language.

Hopefully, educationists can invite Prof Teo to their schools and let him be updated by the students and parents.

Chinese schools take education seriously and many parents like it because the teachers are focused and committed.

The Federal Court has already declared vernacular schools to be constitutional, and everyone should respect that decision and move on. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has also assured Malaysians that the government remains committed to vernacular schools.

Why not make Chinese a compulsory third language in our national schools, since our school education system should evolve to be better?

Truth be told, it’ll never work if it’s merely an optional subject with no requirement to pass.

Enough has been said. There are bigger fish to fry, yet unfortunately, Malaysia continues to be weighed down by inconsequential debates on issues reeking of race and religion, with us only being seen by the world as shooting ourselves in the foot.

Concert coup: Swift performing on stage during a concert as part of her Eras World Tour in Sydney on Feb 23. Singapore and Japan were the only Asian stops for the popstar. – AFP

SINGAPORE has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by having American singer Taylor Swift perform exclusively there, reaffirming itself as an entertainment hub.

Music tourism is a low-hanging fruit which can contribute significantly to a country’s economy.

The island republic has no reason to be apologetic to its aggrieved neighbours. In fact, these sour grapes should be asking themselves why this concert wasn’t a consideration.

Philippines lawmaker Joey Salceda reportedly said the Singapore deal was not “what good neighbours do,” adding that “our countries are good friends. That’s why actions like that hurt.”

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin alleged that the Singapore government had offered Swift millions if she agreed her performances in South-East Asia would only be on their turf.

The bottom line is that it was a straightforward business deal between Swift and Singapore. The quantum of her payment is undisclosed for obvious reasons, but it’s likely an amount that sparkled in Swift’s eyes.

The competition for tourist dollars is serious. Asean countries must compete head-on with their attractions, and concerts are one of them.

Basically, the industry will become more ruthless as Singapore positions music tourism as a growth driver.

Swift’s concert flew over the heads of powers that be here because our Members of Parliament have been indulgently trading verbal blows over bak kut teh and new villages – “issues” mired in the routine race and religion narrative.

Depressingly, organising concerts involving international acts is a tedious, frustrating, expensive and risky business in Malaysia.

Organisers have long complained about the red tape. And what’s even more unfortunate is that concerts in Malaysia often end up being turned into religious issues.

Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez told FMT news portal that although calls for concerts to be cancelled or disallowed had thankfully been ignored by the authorities, the publicity generated in the international media has had a detrimental effect.

The complaints are often from the usual suspects, namely PAS and groups or individuals aligned with the party.

Although show promoters must deal with the respective authorities to get a permit, the Singapore government has sweetened the deal by providing financial aid to concert ventures.

While we’re not expecting our government to provide grants for performances, at least make it easy for our promoters then.

Credit where it’s due, we must commend Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for openly endorsing the recent Coldplay concert.

It’s unnecessary to pander to PAS and its supporters because they don’t support the Pakatan Harapan government, and entertaining their demands won’t garner any votes either.

Analysts in the region are now attempting to tally Singapore’s returns from the Swift concert with estimates touching US$400mil (RM1.8bil).

According to Straits Times, Singapore’s Minister of Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong said the benefits encompassed direct economic advantages, including increased tourist arrivals who spend on tickets, flights, accommodation, as well as entertainment, retail, and dining in Singapore.

Interestingly, the broadsheet reported that Tong personally led a multi-agency team on an exploratory trip to the United States in February 2023, which ultimately secured the run of six shows at the National Stadium.

Swift’s fans, known globally as Swifties, taking photos as they arrive for the pop star’s Eras Tour concert at the National Stadium in Singapore on Thursday. — AFP

Singapore was clearly bent on hosting the concerts and beating everyone in Asean.

Swift’s concerts are projected to generate S$350-500mil (RM1.2 to RM1.7bil) in tourism receipts, assuming approximately 70% of concertgoers were flying in from overseas, according to Erica Tay, director of macro research at Maybank.

vneexpress.net reported that following the announcement of the concert dates, Singapore hotel bookings for March 2024 surged by 10%, according to data from hotel analytics company Smith Travel Research.

“Both Singapore’s flagship carrier Singapore Airlines and budget airline Scoot reported increased demand for flights to Singapore in March, particularly from Southeast Asia.

“Jetstar Asia also confirmed a roughly 20% surge in demand for routes connecting destinations like Bangkok, Manila, and Jakarta to Singapore, CNBC reported.

“In July 2023, UOB, a Singaporean regional bank, recorded an average increase of 45% in daily credit card applications in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam after Swift announced her performances in Singapore. The surge was attributed to UOB cardholders gaining early access to concert tickets.”

The Straits Times reported economists’ estimates of a boost of up to US$500mil (RM2.3bil) in tourism receipts.

If Singapore has upped its game, then so has Indonesia. Malaysians who failed to get their tickets for Coldplay, flew to Indonesia instead. While there were protests there as well, the show still went ahead.

In an interview last year with The Star, the Sultan of Selangor said concerts brought in a lot of revenue.

He said it was up to politicians to explain that when these events were rejected, it meant a loss in revenue.

“That is why (because of all these protests) all the good concerts go to Singapore and Jakarta,” Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had said.

Saudi Arabia has hosted many top concerts including those by BTS, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Mariah Carey and Blackpink. PAS might be gobsmacked to learn that men and women are allowed to dance together there.

The party even opposed Ed Sheeran’s show because of his support for LGBT culture.

If we go by PAS’ logic, the party leaders won’t be able to fraternise with many world leaders from the United States and Europe because they all endorse the LGBT cause. And watching football shouldn’t be an option either because many footballers support it, too.

Meanwhile, back in Malaysia, there was an angry response from some MPs that bak kut teh was among the 10 latest dishes added to Malaysia’s heritage food list.

Granted that the herbal pork rib soup is not halal, but it’s still a Malaysian dish. Also, many non-Muslim Malaysians enjoy it.

A bulk of Chinese tourists come to Malaysia for two main foods – our durians and bak kut teh.

Just patronise the Michelin-star Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh restaurant in Bukit Bintang and check out the long queue of Chinese tourists.

Many restaurants have, in fact, opted to serve seafood and chicken as replacement to pork, so options abound.

Sorry YB Akmal (Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh), but Chinese fried rice is not a national heritage because it’s available in almost every Chinese restaurant from China, through to India and Africa. It’s preposterous to even suggest that for inclusion.

So, if we want to remove bak kut teh from the list, I’m sure Singapore is ever ready to claim it as theirs, even if its version is horribly too peppery.

And since we’re on this subject, why isn’t my favourite and preferred food, nasi kandar, which originates from Penang, not on the list yet mee goreng mamak is?

The bottom line is music and food tourism sell, so let’s see these as products for the sake of the economy.

It’s surely food for thought although it may not be sweet music to some.

Let’s not turn everything into racial and religious polemics. Can our politicians please evolve with the times?

The bottom line is music and food tourism sell, so let’s see these as products for the sake of the economy.

On point: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim reminded the Members of Parliament that as lawmakers, they were expected to comply with the rules they made. — Bernama

IF His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had his way, his maiden speech when opening the new Parliament session last week would have been much shorter. With the rigmarole of formalities and salutations, and background information with statistics, it dragged on a little longer than scripted.

But it was certainly a drastic departure from the approach of previous Kings, who preferred longer speeches, albeit mundane ones.

However, the country’s new King is a man who likes to keep his address precise, brisk and on point.

The Johor Ruler is reputed to be a man who doesn’t mince his words. By his standards, his recent speech was tame.

After all, as he said to the lawmakers, it was his first speech in Parliament, so it was more cordial compared to the one in Johor.

“I asked for your understanding so that no one is offended, but be careful in the future,” he warned.

He reminded the Members of Parliament that as lawmakers, they were expected to comply with the rules they made.

“Therefore, I hope all MPs will set a good example. When in this noble house, will maintain decorum and discipline and use polite language, and not abuse others.

“If you look at the behaviour of Members of Parliament before, I feel ashamed to enter this House.”

Indeed, His Majesty has been gentle in his speech because in an interview in December, he was quoted as saying “when I hit in my speech, I hit. If not, the MPs behave like monkeys.”

“There’re 222 of you in Parliament. There are over 30 million outside. I’m not with you. I’m with them (the rakyat),” he said, adding that he intended to make his presence felt in Kuala Lumpur, both for the government and others.

In case any of the MPs missed the article in Singapore’s Straits Times, he repeated it in his speech in Parliament with a twist, by saying “in my eyes, the success or failure of this country does not rest solely on the Prime Minister, but all 222 MPs who have been entrusted by the people as their representatives in the government.”

“All parties should be aware that my priority is the lives of more than 33 million Malaysian citizens out there. Therefore, I hope all honourable members will focus on efforts to defend their lives, not for the sake of political parties or themselves.”

There was one more reminder – political parties shouldn’t waste time plotting to topple the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because our new King won’t entertain requests that threaten the political stability of the country.

Essentially, no political leader should be trying to collect statutory declarations to overthrow the PM – like in the alleged plot in Dubai – or seek an audience with His Majesty.

“All parties must accept reality and respect the unity government that has been formed. If anyone wants to play politics, wait for the next general election.”

It’s obviously the clearest and sharpest speech by any King when opening a Parliament session. It was definitely refreshing and invigorating, which is why his listeners remained attentive.

To politicians unclear of the concept about what His Majesty meant, it’s best not to take his words lightly, or worse, challenge him by crossing the line.

As he has said, no more Mr Nice Guy the next time around. He’s a very well-informed man, that’s for sure.

Politicians and others who continue to play on sensitive issues involving the Rulers, race, and religion, were duly warned to refrain from fanning the flames of controversy because this despicable behaviour clearly hasn’t stopped.

If these politicians continue with such narratives under the guise of safeguarding the interest of their community, it will only encourage their supporters to do likewise.

They have continued to whine that the positions and rights of the Malays and Islam have eroded or been questioned. And more recently, certain figures have even dared challenge the Rulers.

Inaction against such politicians will only spur them to exploit these sensitive areas to win votes. If what is being bandied on social media is a gauge, then these toxic rants seem to have only increased.

Last week, the Sultan of Selangor singled out Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over an open letter urging the Rulers, among others, to defend Islam in the country, labelling this an affront to Malaysia’s royal institution.

In a statement released via the Selangor Royal Office, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was extremely disappointed with Hadi’s statement.

He warned Hadi, who is PAS president, to be more careful with future remarks on the topic.

“Hadi’s cynical remarks indirectly connecting the Sultan’s decree to the attitude of Rulers who must be concerned with the afterlife and not to pursue worldly interests alone, was the most inappropriate and ill-mannered, given the Malay culture to always be respectful and polite when expressing views and advice to the Malay Rulers,” he said.

In 2023, Hadi declared he would continue to deliver sermons in mosques or suraus despite the Sultan of Terengganu’s ban on politicians delivering political speeches in these places of worship.

The Terengganu Islamic and Malay Customs Council (Maidani) had issued an order prohibiting religious lectures, talks and political activities by politicians in all mosques and suraus statewide.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is already facing accusations of sedition with his case now being heard at the High Court in Shah Alam.

He faces two counts of sedition under the Sedition Act 1948, over a political speech last July. He is accused of uttering a seditious statement that could incite disloyalty against the Rulers.

Whether it’s corruption or sedition, it’s safe to assume that if the King has his way, he’ll make the Attorney-General’s office a hive of activity this year.