7 Sept 2008
With all the recent brouhaha over Penang Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail's racist description over Chinese as squatters in the country and his refusal to apologize, the author is of the opinion that it is Ahmad Ismail's right not to apologize.
What is the point of apologizing if one does not mean it but only does so from political pressure?
If Malaysia is to become a truly democratic country that adhere to the universal declaration of human rights and freedom of expression, then whatever Ahmad Ismail said is within his rights, whether we agree with his views or not. That said, we should also have no-holds-bar discussons on abuse of affirmative action, complications in inter-religious marriage, etc.
In fact, worse statements have emerged from Penang Umno secretary Azhar Ibrahim, who said that "the Sin Chew journalist deserved to be shot if her article causes another May 13", and former Bayan Lepas assemblyperson Mohd Zain, who said "don’t disturb and push the Malays too much. Don’t think we are quiet. We can retaliate very aggressively." These two statements amount to direct threat to the life of the journalist and to the non-Malay communities respectively. If police action is to be taken, it should be against the two persons above, rather than against Ahmad Ismail.
Has Malaysia all of a sudden become a country where every citizen has turned racist? Not really. Racist views have been more freely expressed recently due to the nation's new-found freedom... freedom of expression that is. And outspoken racism is the price we're paying for becoming a more liberal country.
Let's face it, racism has been deeply rooted in many of us, if not all. The question is not whether we're racist, the question is to what extent we are. There is no point in using the sedition act to punish those who have expressed their so-called seditious views, as it does not solve the problem of racism in our country.
It is hope that our new-found freedom of expression does not translate into violent retaliation. Let us pray that Malaysia is finally maturing as a nation who can tolerate each other's controversial views. Only then can we dream about racial unity.
Note:
This article was sent to Malaysiakini.com on 8th Sept. It was published under a different title the following day and reached No. 3 on the day's most read letter.
4 comments:
What Ahmad said is not freedom of expression. It is terribly racist and he ought to be sacked from UMNO. He is not only a disgrace to UMNO, but a disgrace to the whole country as well.
If Ahmad has a right to express himself, then ISA should be abolish. We should free all those detained under the ISA e.g Hindraf group.
16 NGOs agreed with you:
"The use of the Sedition Act legitimises the draconian act which has long been condemned by civil society and opposition parties.
"Rather than use it to further curb the freedom of expression – whoever the accused - the Umno politician and his colleagues who backed him with more racist statements should be made to pay his price politically,"
This article was also published by Malaysiakini and can also be accessed on:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/89302
Post a Comment