Pusat KOMAS condemns the attempts by certain individuals to turn the recent case of consumer rights which involves the sale and purchase between the buyer and seller of telephones at Kota Raya into a racial issue.
Pusat KOMAS would also like to express our strongest objection to the violence and nonsensical responses by former soldier Mohd. Ali Baharom (Ali Tinju) who continued fanning the issue to incite hatred among different races. Instead of looking at the matter from the actual reason of the alleged cheating that took place, Ali Tinju decided to look at the issue from a racial lens and started labelling the Chinese race as cheaters.
We strongly question if Ali Tinju’s responses to the incident were in fact meant to provoke and fan conflict among different races in our multiracial country? We also hold the view that such kind of responses and statements can only be uttered by truly narrow minded and arrogant individuals who refuse to acknowledge the importance of diversity and differences.
Furthermore Pusat KOMAS is appalled by the failure of the Attorney General and the police force for failing to take action on Ali Tinju during his involvement in the riot in front of Plaza Low Yat in July this year. If appropriate actions were taken, subsequent incidents of inciting hatred among races could have been avoided.
The nation’s Police Chief IGP Khalid and Attorney General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Mohamed Apandi Ali should heed the Prime Minister’s instructions to take action on individuals such as Ali Tinju by using the existing laws of the nation. However, we strongly feel that the Sedition Act should not be invoked to confront such issues.
In fact, the actions by Ali Tinju to incite hatred and create disharmony could be prevented if the government implemented the recommendations by the National Unity Consultative Council on the proposed Harmony Bill which consist of the Racial and Religious Hate Crimes Bill, the National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill, and the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill which was proposed to replace the Sedition Act.
Pusat KOMAS hopes that proactive and effective responses and actions from the police and Attorney General Chambers could be taken towards these irresponsible and racist sectors. Failure to do so would send a wrong signal that the government seems to be giving these individuals their blessings to continue acting in extremely racist and bigoted manner.
We strongly feel that there is no room for such racism and bigotry in a country like Malaysia.
We appeal to the common sense and spirit of multi-racialism of the larger Malaysian public to ignore and distance themselves from these bigoted individuals and their extremism. We can and we shall reclaim this nation for all.
Mr. Jerald Joseph
Board of Director & Advisor of Non-Discrimination Programme
Pusat KOMAS
Mobile No: +6 012 2861715
Email: jjerald@gmail.com