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The year 2013 was a year of rallies and protests over many issues of the 13th general election. There were then many urgings to the prime minister to ease the racial and religious tension which prevailed.

The year 2014 has continued with the highlighting of numerous arrests being made using the Sedition Act 1948. There were then many urgings to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak by the moderates to ease racial and religious issues that prevailed.

 

The formation of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) gave the nation some hope of easing the tension. Though their intentions might have been good, the NUCC immediately formulated draft laws hoping to improve inter-racial and inter-religious harmony in the nation.

However, the initial statements of the NUCC ignited the right wing Malay and Islamic NGOs to actively object to the proposed laws, requesting the government to retain and strengthen the Sedition Act 1948.

In my opinion, the NUCC started off hastily, for it should have discussed these matters with all the racial and religious groups, other social groups, and political parties over a period, before drafting its proposed laws. 

The numerous arrests made under the Sedition Act were done with great speed by the police force, most probably with the approval of the attorney-general (AG), while many police reports made by certain groups were ignored.

 

However, the last couple of months saw some moderate groups emphasising the need for the prime minister’s intervention calling for moderation to ease racial and religious differences.

Initially, it was a group of 25 eminent Malays who were mostly retired senior government officials, all from the Islamic faith, appealing to the prime minister to look into the various issues and accusations made by different groups.

This group has also emphasised the need for dialogue to understand each other, to ease the suspicion and misunderstandings of the various communities.

 

This was soon followed up by a group of 33 Malaysians (of which I am one) – of different races and religions – also appealing to the prime minister to intervene, calling for the moderation of racial and religious issues of the nation.

This group supported the call of the group of 25 – to ease the very highly sensitive debates in the media with the intention of encouraging inter-racial and inter-religious dialogue between the different groups, to be guided by prime minister or his representative.

                                                             

Cues for discussion from the top

In my opinion, 2014 was a dismal year in which the ordinary Malaysian was afraid of even saying that his friend was selling peanuts and later being charged under the Sedition Act. Probably, his friend was being forced into doing this by the racial group he belongs to. It gives us the impression that friendly discussions are disallowed, in fear of the Sedition Act.

Do we really want to have such a situation, when in the days of pre- and post-independence of Malaysia, the people lived in a friendly give-and-take atmosphere?

The special interview by former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam stating how happy he was as chairperson of Suhakam, chairing inter-religious meetings between Muslims and non-Muslims (of which I was one, leading the Hindu group), all sitting side by side, discussing religious differences, finding ways for peace and harmony in Malaysia.

It is hoped that the present Suhakam commissioners will be requested by the prime minister to reconvene such a dialogue.

 

The year 2014 ended on a dismal note in its last couple of weeks, with great floods making tens of thousands of Malaysians homeless, and with the air tragedy of Air Asia flight QZ8501.

These heart-breaking incidents must not be taken in a negative note. It must be noted that floods, missing planes, earthquakes, and other tragedies, are normal happenings in our everyday life throughout the world, and it would be most unwise to put blame to others on such tragedies.

 

We have to, instead, take a more positive outlook in 2015. It is my wish that the prime minister takes a serious view of the present situation for an urgent need for inter-racial and inter-religious harmony by reviewing the happenings of the past year and calling upon the AG and the inspector-general of police (IGP) to look into settling sensitive issues in a fair manner.

There is a need for the AG to discuss the prevailing laws with all the representatives of racial and religious NGOs, not forgetting the social and political groups, without prejudice or favour.

 

Similarly, the IGP should also have such dialogues. This suggestion of mine is not new, for I have personally over the last 20 years attended such dialogues called by previous AGs and IGPs. Similarly, the prime minister must personally attend a couple of meetings of the inter-religious committee, approved by him through the National Unity Department, called the Committee of Followers of Various Faiths, which was once successfully chaired by the late Illani Isahak.

Personal touches of the PM, the AG, and the IGP, with all the relevant groups, will, in my opinion, help to solve many of the existing problems created by racial and religious sensitivities. In this matter, the minister in charge of national unity should play an important role in coordinating all these groups, rather than formulating laws for harmony.

 

In welcoming the year 2015, let us – all citizens of Malaysia – pray that the incoming year will bring peace and harmony, with a better understanding of each other’s problems to help solve issues, thus creating a peaceful and harmonious Malaysia.

 

Happy New Year!

 


A VAITHILINGAM is former president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) and of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.

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