“Criminal defamation against Malays”: Another MP lodges police report against Hadi
ANOTHER DAP MP has lodged a police report against PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over his racist remarks which included, among others, that Malays were openly conned and deceived due to their ignorance and carelessness.
Calling Hadi’s statement a “criminal defamation against the Malays”, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said it is a “very dangerous incitement” to the Malays which is capable of inflaming certain groups or races to “commit an offence towards other groups”.
“It also has racial elements which could disrupt public harmony and safety. I request the police investigate Hadi who has repeatedly made such reckless statements that have racial elements under Section 499, 505(c) of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act,” Syerleena said in a statement today.
Syerleena’s police report came one day after Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s own police report over the same statements.
Previously DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng had called for Malaysians to lodge reports against the PAS president over the matter
Claiming that the PAS president’s brand of politics posed a threat to national unity and integration, the Bagan MP pointed out that failure to counter Hadi’s “dangerous attempt to sabotage, undermine and replace the unity government … would be tantamount to being disrespectful to the King and Parliament”.
On Tuesday (May 9) Hadi reiterated his calls for the Malays to unite, saying that the race is being “openly conned” while urging the Malays to let go of their remaining political power due to their own conduct.
The Marang MP also slammed Malays who work with non-Muslims and non-Malays who he claimed are the “biggest plunderers”.
Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (Pic credit: Borneo Post Online)
No place in Malaysia’s diverse society
In her statement, Syerleena further noted that such hate speech and bigotry have no place in the country’s diverse society.
“With only a few more months left before the dissolution of several state assemblies to pave the way for elections, we can see the far right bellowing their sermons of hate – feverishly and without any ounce of logic or sound moral judgement,” she remarked.
“Diversity is a strength of any society and should be celebrated rather than feared or discriminated against.
“If Malaysia is to spearhead the region’s economic and social growth, we must never exclude groups but include every layer of society to contribute to our nation.”
Despite that, Syerleena said Malaysians must also understand that there may be different perspectives and viewpoints within any society.
A healthy way to address such differences is through respectful dialogue and debate to find common ground.
As such, Syerleena stressed that it is important that swift action is taken to address any hateful comments or bigoted behaviour.
“This involves educating individuals on the harmful impact of their words or actions, enforcing consequences for those who engage in hate speech or discriminatory behaviour, and providing support and resources for those who have been impacted by such behaviour,” she commented.
“Perhaps PAS have ‘conveniently’ forgotten that in any democracy, healthy debates are welcome and such exchanges must be done through facts and logic, not name-calling and religious fear-mongering.
“Therefore, it is timely for Malaysians to take a stance against hate and ‘remind’ the overzealous bigots that Malaysia is a country for all and shall remain a country for everyone irrespective of ethnicity and religious beliefs,” she said. – May 12, 2023
No place in Malaysia’s diverse society
In her statement, Syerleena further noted that such hate speech and bigotry have no place in the country’s diverse society.
“With only a few more months left before the dissolution of several state assemblies to pave the way for elections, we can see the far right bellowing their sermons of hate – feverishly and without any ounce of logic or sound moral judgement,” she remarked.
“Diversity is a strength of any society and should be celebrated rather than feared or discriminated against.
“If Malaysia is to spearhead the region’s economic and social growth, we must never exclude groups but include every layer of society to contribute to our nation.”
Despite that, Syerleena said Malaysians must also understand that there may be different perspectives and viewpoints within any society.
A healthy way to address such differences is through respectful dialogue and debate to find common ground.
As such, Syerleena stressed that it is important that swift action is taken to address any hateful comments or bigoted behaviour.
“This involves educating individuals on the harmful impact of their words or actions, enforcing consequences for those who engage in hate speech or discriminatory behaviour, and providing support and resources for those who have been impacted by such behaviour,” she commented.
“Perhaps PAS have ‘conveniently’ forgotten that in any democracy, healthy debates are welcome and such exchanges must be done through facts and logic, not name-calling and religious fear-mongering.
“Therefore, it is timely for Malaysians to take a stance against hate and ‘remind’ the overzealous bigots that Malaysia is a country for all and shall remain a country for everyone irrespective of ethnicity and religious beliefs,” she said. – May 12, 2023
While it is good that a Malay MP has lodged a police report against Hadi, it must be noted she is from DAP.
ReplyDeleteWhat about those Malays in Amanah and PKR?
And what about organisations like C4 and Patriot?
Perhaps they share the feeling that nothing will come out of the police reports because nobody will dare touch Hadi.