IF I’m suffering from a life-threatening disease and laying helplessly on a hospital bed, it wouldn’t matter to me if the doctors and nurses trying to save my life were Type C, Type M or Type I – if that’s a new classification for races.

I would just want the type of medical personnel who are competent and dedicated to their work. Basically, their race or religion bears no significance to me.

Even the most racist politicians and netizens freewheelingly posting nasty comments online would be realistic enough to know they should be colour blind when fighting for their lives.

How many of us, including these racist sorts, have enquired about the source of the blood administered in our hospitals?

Many of us seem to have ignorantly and arrogantly forgotten that skin colour matters little.

Visits to the hospitals should be organised for these types to open their eyes, and hearts, to let them see that patients in hospital wards respect each other.

They embrace prayers of a different religion conducted for them because they understand and appreciate that these prayers are done in good faith – praying for their well-being.

We must remember that come Judgment Day, our Creator will be unconcerned about our “types” but evaluate our conduct through life. If you can’t forgive, then don’t expect forgiveness for yourself.

So, why would anyone running a business – including one selling fried chicken – care about the race of their clients?

The only type of customers you’d want are repeat customers who place big orders. You want loyal customers.

So, what is the “Type C’’ issue all about? Well, it started to trend after local fast-food restaurant DarSA Fried Chicken (DFC) used the term to refer to Malaysian Chinese.

According to media reports, the restaurant in Rawang, Selangor, opened its doors last month. DFC is said to cater to locals with its “Made in Malaysia” appeal against the backdrop of local boycotts of US-linked brands.

According to a Says.com report, amid this “support local” branding drive, DFC left a controversial comment that brought the issue of race into a conversation with a netizen who complained about their pricing.

“I hope the prices can be more reasonable because after looking at the price list, I think they are more expensive than KFC,” wrote the netizen.

In response, DFC said, “Sir, did you skim through the price list or see it in full? You need to see the full price list before considering if it’s reasonably priced or expensive.

“Type C is trying to play up various harmful sentiments towards DFC. We shouldn’t be easily swayed, especially when you haven’t tried it yourself,” replied the restaurant.

DFC has since explained that the mistake may have occurred due to the high volume of comments they received, causing the social media admin to lose focus while responding to netizen complaints.

It has apologised over the issue, adding, “We have decided not to answer the issue from hereon to avoid repeating the mistake. We will only answer issues regarding operations and other matters that do not involve other parties.

“We welcome all our customers from various walks of life regardless of race or religion,” they said.

To err is human, to forgive is divine. Mistakes happen and it’s right that many Malaysians are saying DFC doesn’t deserve to be boycotted over a silly response from an errant administrator.

DFC, however. should have added another line to its statement – “the person responsible for that hateful remark has been reprimanded.”

An employee with that kind of attitude is certainly not the type that the restaurant wants on its payroll.

In a strange twist, DFC had to acknowledge customers’ complaints about their price points but refrained from specifying future steps to lower prices.

At the end of the day, price matters, but customers don’t mind paying more if its fried chicken tastes better than the established competitors.

It can’t depend on an unending well of goodwill and the present sentiment against US franchises for support. It must encourage the patronage of all types of customers.

Thankfully, Malaysians have a great sense of humour. TGV Cinemas wittily rode on the controversy by posting the message – “Type A, Type B, Type C, itu semua tak penting. Yang penting you are my type!”

Numerous cartoons have also appeared on social media, taking a dig at those of us who callously blame the Chinese community for certain things.

DFC has apologised a few times following the incident, revealing that the staff responsible has been transferred. The fried chicken retailer seems genuine, and one staff shouldn’t ruin everything, So, let’s just move on and give them a chance.

I have faith in most Malaysians. Of course, we should support Malaysian products.

I like all types of chicken whether fried, steamed or roasted. So it doesn’t matter if it is KFC, DFC, mamak or Hainanese!

But those who spew racist remarks, especially politicians, should be “deep fried” by us in the next general election. That’s the type we want booted out.

The basic rules of journalism should apply, says the writer: Be able to back what you’ve reported, especially when it involves sensitive matters. — This visual is human-created, AI-aided.

WHEN the Bloomberg editors approved the story about on-going talks to open a casino in Forest City in Johor, they must have been absolutely convinced by their information’s accuracy.

The three reporters, too, must have completely believed in their sources’ whispers to them.

They claimed their information came from “people familiar with the matter”. It must then have solid and credible evidence.

In fact, they even said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had met with Berjaya Corp founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Genting Group’s Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay recently to discuss reviving the troubled RM478bil property project.

The New York-based financial news agency has since reported a denial from Genting, quoting the New Straits Times, alleging its involvement in starting a casino.

The supposedly credible news agency has, however, not retracted its story, which conspicuously indicates its stand.

Unfortunately, the report has detrimentally affected those named in the article. The impact is bad because Malaysiakini and The Edge apart, it was also picked up by a few news outlets in Singapore.

A police investigation is imminent, and the three reporters will likely be called up for questioning, too. Berjaya Corp legal representatives filed police reports on April 26, and it wants the cops to determine the source of the reporters’ information. The editor of a financial portal is expected to be called to Bukit Aman tomorrow, with more journalists asked to do the same in coming days.

Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shahrin has already been charged for publishing seditious material on the purported casino project.

There are grave consequences from the story. It’s not just a simple speculative news piece which can be dismissed and denied later.

Its faraway ignorant American editors may be forgiven for not realising the implications of the article, but surely their Malaysian bosses should know better.

It may seem like a story that’s too juicy to spike, as veteran journalists would recall the term, but this would simply be put on hold or just deleted.

Still, the basic rules of journalism apply. Be able to back what you’ve reported, especially when it involves sensitive matters.

Bloomberg hasn’t officially denied its story, which means it’s sticking by its report. For impressive stats, their reporters are 100% accurate.

Naturally, they won’t reveal their sources, like any self respecting journalist. The agency ran the story trusting the accuracy of the information and credibility of its sources.

It’s optimistic to expect the sources to vouch for them at the expense of needing to defend themselves instead. Perhaps the media house believes the government is powerless since retribution infringes on press freedom.

However, the aggrieved parties in this article include Sultan Ibrahim, the Sultan of Johor, and the King of Malaysia.

He’s also a stakeholder of the massive Forest City project, and His Majesty has been unfairly dragged into the controversy of the news report because of the article.

Surely Bloomberg is aware that the King is the head of Islam, so there won’t be any approval for a new casino in his state.

The timing of the report certainly raises an eyebrow, and could it also be injurious to the King, PM and even China?

In a nutshell, the purported casino can’t be approved in Johor without his consent.

There are many businessmen and leaders, who may have access to the King, but that doesn’t entitle them to speak with authority or expect credibility.

It may be wishful thinking on their part because over the past few years, many have explored all kinds of ideas, including possibly starting a casino to revive Forest City, but they remain propositions at best.

For the media, which gets fed with all kinds of information daily, good and seasoned journalists would still know how to exercise discretion, maturity, wisdom and remain aware of the impact of what they write.

They would crosscheck with other sources to verify the accuracy of their information.

In this scenario, Bloomberg said “people familiar with the matter.” So, we presume that’s plural?

But in this contentious report, Muslims, who comprise most of this country, will surely be anxious and unhappy with what’s been reported.

It also involves two Chinese tycoons, whose motives will be questioned and likely interpreted as insensitive by Muslims, while for China, it will, again, be seen as the villain and greedy country, like how the Western media merrily spins the narrative.

Fake news? No. It’s a story that has a lot of red flags and a new casino in present day Malaysia is a non-starter.

Big potential: Adapting faster to AI technology in as many areas as possible will help Malaysia with proactive planning, which includes looking at talent, norms, standards, and research and development, says the writer. — 123rf

ABOUT a week ago, I decided to make a video ahead of my meeting in Beijing, on the use of artificial intelligence in the media.

The video was no ordinary recording since, finally, AI technology can professionally produce a work of me speaking in Mandarin, even though I’m not fluent in it at all.

With the help of Bernama and Huawei Malaysia, an AI avatar of me was generated speaking in the language, with convincing lip and voice gestures and movements.

With readily available tools, AI allows me to “speak” in any language I choose with near likeness to my voice.

The days of amateur voice dubbing of Malay-speaking Doraemon and Ultraman, which we grew up watching on television, has long expired.

AI will even allow the generators to create an artificial version of myself in great detail.

That AI alter ego of me, if that’s the right term, can be programmed to have conversations with those unaware that it’s not really me.

To rephrase a classic quote, it looks like me and sounds like me, but it isn’t really me. And the technology to do this isn’t even rocket science.

Now, that’s a new avatar I’d like to work on.

As a newcomer to this exciting technology, I have found how useful AI will be in helping generate content as well as fact check our work.

I arrived in Beijing on Thursday to attend a four-day conference organised by China Media Corp (CMG), one of the world’s largest broadcasting networks.

It’s a short training programme for media practitioners to learn about AI and the responsibilities that come with it.

AI will help focus our energies on productivity and creativity as it can handle the mundane daily work, although it can’t negate human decision making.

There’s a responsibility that must be shouldered by humans.

But more than that, as China and the United States compete in this technology, it concerns me that Malaysia has yet to fully embrace it.

At stake is international economic competitiveness and efficiency for Malaysia. Adapting faster to this technology in as many areas as possible will help Malaysia with proactive planning, which includes looking at talent, norms, standards, and research and development.

Will we be able to produce enough Malaysians who are skilled in this area of technology?

By being competent in AI technology, nations aspire to have a strategic advantage over their rivals, and outpace them.

AI is rapidly transforming the way things are done in many industries, including the media.

Media practitioners are at the forefront of harnessing AI’s potential as a tool for good while ensuring ethical usage.

Journalists can now make use of this new technology for advanced research, data analysis, and coming up with better story angles. They can even leverage AI’s writing assistance for initial drafts while retaining editorial control.

Unfortunately for Malaysia, it seems like we haven’t discovered the relevance of this cutting-edge technology yet.

Almost all sectors have not embraced it as much as they should. It’s probably due to the lack of knowledge and prohibitive costs, but the sad truth is our leaders haven’t focused on this area at all.

Are our regulators ready to ponder existing legal frameworks on the use of algorithm data which affects our lives and generates artificial content, even fake works?

Are our laws and regulators, and even enforcement bodies, equipped to take on those who violate the use of AI?

Yes, Malaysia has started drawing up the code of governance and ethics on AI, but it can’t take too long because technology won’t wait for us to catch up.

How can our police force be upskilled to use AI to conduct investigations and forensic work to help cut down manpower needs? The police have been identified as one area where the use of AI will help lighten the load.

Our politicians are unfortunately wasting too much time on inconsequential issues that won’t help Malaysia be on the forefront of the race to be an international player.

We need an effective action plan for AI to create public awareness. While we have a Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence 2021-2025, we also need a stronger push for a growing digital economy.

One notable venture is the collaboration between YTL Power International Bhd and US-based Nvidia Corp to develop AI infrastructures and build super computers.

For that, we need to attract as well as produce enough of these world forces.

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.