Malaysians are their own worst enemy

By admin-s On Jan 20, 2015

We now live in a Malaysia where one stupid statement can trigger even stupider statements, thus leading to politicians making perhaps stupidest statements that can be made into a satirical book (which it has).

Hafidz Baharom, MMO

I think the title speaks for itself and why the multiple causes we fight for.

When we talk of better governance, better policies, reviewing laws and the want to abolish those which we label draconian or even archaic, Malaysians are their own worst enemies. Mostly because some of us just cannot shut up or mind their tongues.

But more so, the Malaysian public on social media has no problem showing their ignorance and absence of minding their tongues.

In the last week, we even saw it firsthand when someone asked Jakim to ban motorcycles. It led to a even stupider statement of the threat of “May 16.” I’ve no idea what that threat was, because it either meant that Teacher’s Day, or the lack of cash we have to spend during the middle of the month is considered a “tragedy.”

Malaysians need to learn to balance their humours. We have reached a level where we have somehow condoned a tit-for-tat of stupid statements.

And these stupid statements are inflammatory, beneficial to no one, and quite frankly have to stop. On social media, to paraphrase a scene in “Thank You For Smoking,” you are not talking to just the person you address. You are talking to the world.

Sometimes, you just have to face the fact that Malaysians are immature to the point that they cannot even fathom the damage they do to their own causes.

The movement to abolish the Sedition Act, for example, will not go through if people cannot mind their tongues and civilly give a Facebook or Twitter comment. It gives ammunition to the groups which are against the repeal. And sadly, Malaysians either knowing or unknowingly are doing it without a care.

At this time, I am already considering that perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps Malaysians are too dumb to understand typing stupid comments and triggering online flame wars, police reports and even the continued use of the law.

Of course, if I were to believe conspiracy theorists that are aplenty in Malaysia, these are all done by Umno cybertroopers who want to show that there is just cause for the law to be maintained.

I sincerely doubt that. We can find trolls aplenty, but these are simple of mind, everyday Malaysians who just cannot fathom the concept of minding their tongues, especially in a situation of clear anonymity as they get on social media.

We must grow up as a nation before even expecting a government to do the same. That includes the way we talk to one another in person, in forums and even online. We cannot expect a government to be more mature when we have those close to 40 thinking it is better to sound off Jakim instead of having younger Malaysians proposing a better way forward.

Come up with suggested solutions, ideas, informed opinions.