At what cost polls victory?
By Terence Fernandez, The Sun
When the country is in crisis-mode, especially when it is an issue as touchy as religion and ethnic relations, one would expect our leaders to take the path of moderation to ensure peace and stability.
Unfortunately, instead of calling for cool heads to prevail, the home minister and his counterpart from the Information Communication and Culture Ministry by their statements, risk fanning the flames that are being exploited by certain parties.
HISTORY is filled with questionable theories and outright lies. Hitler concocted and exaggerated some facts about the Jews to justify his bid to eliminate the race. The Khmer Rouge drummed into the heads of recruits and peasants that their poverty was due to the greed of the ruling elite and educated class.
And as how lies go, the more you repeat it, the distinction between fact and fiction becomes blurred.
This is a game that has been played time and again by politicians and warring parties and it is no different today.
The verdict is still out on the veracity of Saturday’s front page of a Bahasa Malaysia daily. Although one questions the good sense of the reporters and their editors who would front-page a story totally based on blogs. One can laugh off the report as a case of very bad judgment call – something for the “don’ts of reporting” in a journalism course.
But following the scenes of demonstrators in Penang and listening to the words of those entrusted to maintain civility; my sentiment has shifted from amusement to trepidation.
So on Sunday I sent this text message to a senior Umno leader: “U seriously can’t believe the front page yesterday, can U?? It flies in d face of logic. It’s dangerous! So why is Umno Youth demonstrating? U want to kill DAP, don’t do it at d expense of d Christian community. The report was based on blog postings! If I were 2 write stories based on blogs, theSunwould be having sensational Page 1 stories everyday!”
His response: “I understand, pls get my statement today. I said it’s not proven to be true. But the ground is rumbling and angry. I will see what I can do.”
When the country is in crisis-mode, especially when it is an issue as touchy as religion and ethnic relations, one would expect our leaders to take the path of moderation to ensure peace and stability.
Unfortunately, instead of calling for cool heads to prevail, the home minister and his counterpart from the Information Communication and Culture Ministry by their statements, risk fanning the flames that are being exploited by certain parties.
Judging from their reaction to reporters’ queries, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim have put on their politicians’ hats instead of cabinet minister.
“This type of movement can be deemed as incitement and can put the whole country in jeopardy,” Hishammuddin told reporters in Besut right after posing for photographs showing the 1Malaysia symbol with Umno and MCA leaders.
Rais added: “The move by certain quarters in questioning Islam as the country’s official religion is considered as breaking away from the social norm and this had never been done before.”
So it seems that while Bukit Aman is yet to even shift into second gear in its investigation, our two leaders seem to have made up their mind over the events in Penang on Saturday.
But one does take a bit of comfort from the home minister who has since said that the authorities will investigate without fear or favour.
At the same time, one is reminded of the home minister’s statement on Dec 16, 2009 regarding bloggers: “There is no credibility in some of their postings while articles are fabricated and sensationalised in an attempt to gain popularity.
“Local journalists adhered to ethics but these bloggers did not, and this was what differentiated the journalists from these bloggers.”
While one does not want to go down the same road and make up one’s mind before the police had conducted their investigations, what is important is that everyone distances themselves from the inflammatory slant of the article.
Everyone, including the two ministers should have taken the cue from their boss, the prime minister who appealed for calm and a thorough investigation.
Perhaps some crackpot at an attempt at humour would have made a snide remark at the gathering of Christians in Penang. This could have prompted a “misunderstanding”. And for those ignorant of the different rites and practices of the various Christian denominations, the prayer circle could also be interpreted as an “oath taking ceremony”.
For supporters of the establishment, it would not be out of sync for them to be cautious of the political leanings of the Christian community, following the many contentious issues that brought the community and the government to loggerheads, and the political rhetoric that are sometimes imbued in the weekly sermon.
Unfortunately, as the law of probabilities goes, the daily in question has had a penchant for the controversial and seditious – partly because it has been able to get away with it, while other newspapers are regularly reminded of the consequences of stepping out of line.
If there are cool and mature heads out there, now is the time to stand up and say “no” to those who chose to divide and conquer instead of winning the hearts and minds of all Malaysians.
