ANWAR GETS A ‘TIN KOSONG’ REMINDER FROM CITIZENS – MAKE SURE YOU MATCH YOUR GRAND-SOUNDING WORDS WITH TOUGH, UNCOMPROMISING ACTION – ‘OTHERWISE THE FINAL WARNING IS FRIVOLOUS’ – EVEN AS AZALINA, DELIBERATELY OR NOT, ADDS TO THE CONFUSION WITH CALL FOR ‘NEW LAW’ TO FINE ‘3R’ CULPRITS – BUT IS A FINE ENOUGH FOR THE LIKES OF MAHATHIR & HADI AWANG? – SINCE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE MALAYSIA IS MULTIRACIAL, WHY NOT SUSPEND THEIR ‘MALAYSIAN’ CITIZENSHIP SINCE THEY ARE NOT ‘MALAYSIAN’ ANYWAY BUT ONLY ‘MALAY’ – OR BANISH THEM TO A REMOTE SPOT FOR ‘RE-EDUCATION’ UNTIL THEY CAN NO LONGER HARM OTHERS OR DERAIL ALREADY LONG-DELAYED NATION-BUILDING EFFORTS
PW Cheng: Warnings must be matched with actions. Otherwise, it’s frivolous and has no effect. One striking scenario which you had consistently trumpeted is the fight against corruption.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, you are more concerned about fighting the big sharks first, which I disagree with as we need to fight all the sharks, big or small, simultaneously to wipe out all the elements of corruption. Otherwise, one big shark is out, and many small sharks will grow to replace the one big shark.
This small shark’s scenario is captured clearly in the government departments, especially immigration. And corruption had not waned but perpetuated as usual and mutated into a skilful art of “cari makan” (filling up one’s pocket) business.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing who had taken great lengths and risk to expose alleged corruption in the immigration in KLIA had not got any support from you. There was only damage control from you visiting the immigration in KLIA to say hello to them, probably to pacify them.
As a tourism minister, he has the responsibility and locus standi to see that all bona fide tourists face no hindrance when entering the country. And he is just doing his job.
So, when and where is the will to fight corruption? With due respect Mr Anwar, words must be matched with actions for people to believe you.
Newday: Final warning? Okay. We accept it on face value that this is well meant and am now hopeful these issues will have some real outcomes that are balanced in their approach.
Sadly, up until now, the approach has been quite unbalanced. The hardcore bigots have delivered aggressive waves of irrational and irresponsible attacks on anyone that doesn’t agree with their narrow ideology. Investigations started but never completed or just disappear completely.
What can a moderate-liberal Muslim or non-Muslim do in the face of these attacks? Just say nothing? We cannot. As liberal Muslims, we are now labelled the extremists when we are plainly not. We just want to be left alone. But no, that isn’t a status quo that the real extremists are happy with, so the attacks will continue.
The non-Muslims and us (liberal Muslims) become marginalised. Fear becomes our existence. We voice out and somehow, we end up having the door kicked in and being investigated and in record time, while the aggressors are essentially untouchable.
That is wrong no matter how you look at it. Anwar – no fear and certainly no favour in this must be applied.
OCT: This gives the impression that all the previous warnings and investigations were lip service without any intention to prosecute for any reason. The law is very clear. No ambiguity. There is no need to give a final warning.
They are not schoolchildren. It is the enforcement authorities that failed Malaysians. The authorities dare not take on any religious leaders. Thus, they become bolder and untouchable. The PM does not dare bell the “wild cats” like former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
The two senior leaders have seriously touched on many 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues. All the government (police) did were called them up for “teh tarik” sessions. Meanwhile, there are incidences where non-Malays/ Muslims were arrested and interrogated for days, and some were charged (for some violations).
We will not be surprised if DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng is charged (for his latest temple remark) but Hadi remains free with no action taken against him. PM, please do not be NATO (no action, talk only) again.
LimePanther5220: If this government is serious that no one should talk about 3R issues when campaigning, then they should disband 3R-based parties, namely, Umno, Bersatu, Amanah, PAS, MCA and MIC.
By the sheer fact that these are 3R-based parties, they already have a 3R agenda. By presenting a 3R front, are they not making use of the 3R perspective to swing voters’ votes?
With an underlying 3R agenda, is it fair that these 3R-based parties do not allow multi-racial parties to alert voters about their agenda? So, they are going into the campaign blaring their “3R-ness” but tying up the hands of their opponents who are not allowed to mention 3R.
In fact, Guan Eng did voters a good turn by warning them of the consequences should this country be overtaken by an intolerant regime. If one sees an approaching tsunami, isn’t it a crime not to sound the alarm?
Mazilamani: Having consumed rice as part of our daily staple meal for all these years, it is doubtful one will change their diet. When has any leader representing PAS ever spoken in Parliament on national issues? It has been only speaking on religion, race and threats by other races.
The non-Malays/ Muslims are not into clandestine activities against the government. Instead, they are noted for their good work attitude, commitment and are loyal and prepared to serve the people.
apanama is back: PM, since you had issued a last warning, I am willing to give you my benefit of the doubt. This is similar to what our Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said earlier. Since then, Guan Eng and Hadi are being investigated.
Even though you mentioned, “the consensus is, not only in the government or within the party, but even in discussions in the Conference of Rulers – that the country must be saved from those who are so desperate to hold onto power that they are willing to sacrifice the people’s interests and bring chaos and disunity”. I prefer this consensus will be translated into taking action.
Talking and saying are one thing. It is the actions, without fear and favour, that matter
While you mentioned, “I think the situation has become so serious because we have turned a blind eye to it for decades and did not act against extreme statements”; I believe you yourself do not want to join in the statistics of turning a blind eye towards the extremists.
PM, you need to prove to me that no one in this country, including yourself, is untouchable as far as “extremists” who are playing up the 3R issues are concerned, in whatever manner, be it in the media, languages and narratives. That is more important than this last warning.
Prove to me with actions, please. People are watching from now onwards. MKINI
Azalina moots punitive action for 3R-related offences
The law and institutional reform minister says it is easier to issue a fine to deal with such offences.
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it was sometimes harder to charge someone under the Sedition Act or the Penal Code.
KUALA LUMPUR: Punitive action may be a better way to deal with issues related to race, religion and royalty, commonly known as 3R, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said.
It was easier to take punitive action, such as issuing fines, she said compared to charging the offenders under the Sedition Act.
Azalina said that it was sometimes difficult to determine if an action ran afoul of the Sedition Act or another offence under the Penal Code.
“This makes it harder to charge and convict someone.
“In a criminal case, there are procedures and it is not simple.
“But if we take punitive action, someone would just be fined,” she said after a forum at Menara Dato’ Onn, here.
She also proposed a specific law similar to the ones in Singapore and Australia that safeguard the harmony in a multicultural society.
Singapore has the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990 while Australia has the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
“The burden of proof is not as high as compared to a criminal case.”
Such a law would also be vital to ensure that the authorities would be able to distinguish between mischief and criminal intent when investigating cases related to 3R, Azalina said.
On Tuesday, the government issued a “final warning” to those playing up 3R issues.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had been informed by the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission that they were monitoring everyone, regardless of race, religion or social status. FMT
Azalina: There should be new Act to impose civil penalties on those playing up 3R sentiments
KUALA LUMPUR― The government is mulling a new Act to impose civil penalties on those who play up 3R (religion, king and race) sentiments, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said the new Act which may be called the “State and Nation Act” was like the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act in Singapore, but in the Malaysian context.
At present, she said any offence involving the 3R issue was investigated under the Sedition Act 1848, whereby the act was more geared towards elements of criminal offences, causing prosecution to take a long time due to legal procedures.
“So, I said maybe we need to evaluate it in the element of positivity… such an Act that is proposed is punitive.
“It means that if one violates it, he or she will be fined. That is easier to solve or convict,” she told reporters after appearing as a guest on the “Malaysia Di Ambang PRN 2023” forum at Menara Dato Onn here last night.
Azalina said the proposal to create the new Act had been presented to the Cabinet today and received a positive response.
According to her, the challenge faced at the moment is when social media is used to play up 3R sentiments, it can be denied and there is no solid evidence to prove it.
Therefore, she said the existence of the new Act was a solution to the 3R issue that had become more and more prevalent in the country in recent years, and would ensure the needs of the future generation are better met.
Meanwhile, Azalina, who is also Umno’s information chief, said the decision of the French Court of Appeal to reject the enforcement of a partial award to the Sulu Group proved the stability of the Madani government.
“The Sulu case cannot be won (by the Sulu Group) if the government is stable. They took advantage. They are not stupid. They know that if the prime minister changes, sometimes the attorney general changes, they take advantage,” she said.
She said political stability was vital to safeguarding the country’s peace and economy as well as continuing the people’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said early exposure to political literacy among the youth through the curriculum and programmes implemented by the ministry aimed to form young people who knew their rights as citizens.
“Our current focus is on those who can already vote in the context of the Education Ministry’s segment, (those in) Form Six, matriculation and so on, they have been exposed to the curriculum,” she said. ― Bernama
