Malaysiakini Letter
Simon Lim Seng Chai, Cenbet | Published:
LETTER | The second night of violence at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Seafield Hindu temple is attributed to lapses by the police and failure of politicians to calm heightened tension among their followers.
The police should have cordoned off the area surrounding the temple after the first night of violence, to prevent the recurrence of mob rule.
Further, a stronger police presence there would have prevented things from getting out of hand, for the second consecutive night.
But these were not done, resulting in chaos, including the unfortunate and unnecessary injuries sustained by fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim in the hands of mobsters.
No public servant should be denied of carrying out their duties, much less by those out to cause violence. We condemn the violence against Muhammad Adib in the strongest possible term and call on the police to urgently arrest the perpetrators.
Politicians are also to be blamed for raising the temperature. When a group of senior politicians chided the Subang Jaya police, they had knowingly or otherwise, emboldened those who were already carried away by sentiments.
Politicians should have worked with the police and the temple dispute parties to resolve the problem and lower the political temperature, not add fuel to the fire.
These lapses couldn't have come at a worse time. Racial-religious tension has again climbed, following the government's decision not to ratify Icerd, and the slew of provocative statements, including those made by the former deputy prime minister, a current minister and several heads of NGOs.
Such lapses allow extremists to harvest discontent and sow further discord, to the detriment of nation-building. This goes against moderation which Cenbet (Centre for a Better Tomorrow) promotes.
We call on the authorities to use the full force of the law in combating such undesirable elements and everyone to support efforts to maintain law and order.
The writer is the vice-president of Cenbet, a senior lawyer and former political secretary to an ex-minister. Cenbet promotes moderation and good governance – two elements it believes is central to building the foundation to a better tomorrow.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Unrestrained power in your hands
For almost 20 years, Malaysiakini has stayed true to the cause of providing the Malaysian public with the truth. We believe that with unadulterated information, the people will obtain power to make informed decisions.
Decisions which lead to a healthy, robust nation - ours!
Keep the truth alive. Support your robust, independent media. You have the unrestrained power to do so.
In news we trust
A media which is sustained by the backing and support of its people is ensured its independence. The prolonged fight for justice with the support of the public has made it possible for Malaysiakini to continue its operations for over 20 years.
Who says it's not our fault?
We aren’t trained to take responsibility.
Everytime we observe an injustice - and choose to keep mum - the prevalence of injustice becomes our fault.
Astute journalism paves the way for the public to be continuously furnished with the fastidious truth. You are continuously empowered to act and to uphold the integrity of the nation.
Your say is the most crucial say!
THE MOST COURAGEOUS ACT STILL IS TO THINK FOR YOURSELF. Aloud.
HAVE A SAY ON MALAYSIAKINI’S YOURSAY.
The Rakyat owns Malaysiakini
We choose to take a risk on independent media because we believe that only through independent reporting can one be NOT beholden to the interest of businesses or organisations. This allows us to really pursue the truth - aggressively.
Malaysiakini.
Independent for 20 years.
You know when it gets real
Listen to your gut.
You know when it gets real.
Truth really matters.
Malaysiakini.
Going beyond expectations.
The victorious people
In the light of holding the truth to power, Malaysiakini will continue to uphold its mission of providing credible news to its discerning public. Your support for Malaysiakini is always treasured as a testament of innate nationalism. Your victory is our history.
Quietly. Effectively. Says it all. Malaysiakini.
Speaking truth to power
When we embarked on this journey 20 years ago, we knew we would face intimidation, harassment, raids, arrests and perhaps even jail terms. We got into this venture with our eyes wide open.
The main reason we have survived this long - when many others have folded - is partly because we are prudent in our finances. But while we may be tightfisted in our budgeting, we do not hold back when it comes to speaking truth to power and holding power to account. And certainly, this new administration will not stop us from continuing to do so.
Serving humanity
As servants of this nation, we at Malaysiakini applaud the continuous engagement of the public in affairs of the state.
You make Malaysiakini what it is.
You make Malaysia what it is.
The future is moving in
Stay curious. Stay with Malaysiakini. Our energy is to meet your demands. As the future moves in, let us help you be in time for it.
We hear you.
The comment section is an integral part of Malaysiakini. We are commited to improve our website based on your feedback. This is why we have upgraded our comment section to include the following new features that you have been asking for.
We hope you will enjoy our new changes. Don’t hesitate to email us your feedback at [email protected].
Your subscription expires on
Your subscription will expire soon, kindly renew before
Your subscription is expired
Click here to renew
You are not subscribed to any subscription package
Click here to subscribe now
Any questions?
Email: [email protected]
Call: +603-777-00000
Why does the comments section look different?