The View through Hate-Tinted Lenses
Datuk Huan Cheng Guan, Citizen Times
Since GE 12 and 13, PR ‘s gospel of hatred has corroded public opinion and created greater hostility toward our ruling government.
Undoubtedly, the widespread use of hate politics has created such a fragmented and divided society that today, our country is opposingly different from the one formed by our forefathers when independence was declared in 1957. Unlike before, many look at one another through hate-tinted lenses.
With the surfeit of hate messages, negative comments via speeches, Malaysians have seen the emergence of ‘anti-politics’ where more have growing contempt for politics and politicians thereby fanning a cauldron of anti-establishment sentiments stirred by rabble rousers.
A political coalition and its members that claims victory by laying a foundation of racism has no basis to gloat over how they won the popular vote. Realistically, Pakatan Rakyat secured seats via a platform of hatred, lies, and propaganda to manipulate and motivate citizens to vote for them and to turn against the government.
PR is least concerned about being factual, ethical or truthful because they blatantly go against these ethics which they freely use to judge BN. All they need to do is to make citizens hate anything and anyone related to the ruling government.
When Malaysians are not informed but inflamed, they will believe anything and everything that comes from the mouth of PR leaders.
Even if the PM or PMO or any upright leader were to defend any issue, brainwashed citizens would not cast a second look at those messages because their minds have already been indoctrinated with hate and fear.
The Opposition constantly bombards its audience with the same message that PR leaders are the only ones telling you the truth whereas BN leaders are corrupt and are lying. They teach Malaysians to distrust and disrespect the government by accusing them of all kinds of crimes – from corruption to discrimination to concealing the truth.
Today, Malaysia is at the threshold of a very dangerous possibility that the mongrels of hatred could cause their victims to run rabid in street protests that could lead to clashes. Citizens are incited to show their displeasure physically via brazen street protests or to sue those who speak against them.
These reasons and the series of unfortunate events in the last two years must have spurred PM Najib to declare that Seditions Act will “be strengthened and made more effective”, with “a special clause to protect the sanctity of Islam, while other religions also cannot be insulted”.
A second clause will make it illegal to call for the breakaway of the states of Sabah and Sarawak, on Malaysian Borneo, he said.
It is not a question of reneging on his July 2012 announcement that he will repeal the Sedition Act. Current political ambiance has left PM with no choice but to rein in negative comments, which seem to be second nature for many netizens or citizens.
Implementing a National Harmony Act when hate is in the air would be a farcical move.
