By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Member of the National Unity Advisory Council
KOTA KINABALU: The first thing that came to mind when reading about the young man who was slapped because he was mistaken for a Muslim who was not fasting is that there should be no tolerance for intolerance in our beloved multi-racial country.
We should learn to tolerate each other even if the other person passively thinks or acts differently.
If, however, his or her behaviour is considered rude or in violation of rules and regulations, there are avenues to pursue other than trying to act as judge, jury and executioner.
In the case that has gone viral and been reported in the media, a young man was slapped twice in a convenience store by an unknown person who believed the abused person was a Muslim and was therefore not fasting during this month of Ramadan.
That is taking the law into one’s own hands, and that act is an offence. Police are now investigating.
Such incidents have no place in Malaysia, which has a rich tapestry of cultures and religions.
To combat such similar behaviour, we must promote interfaith dialogue and understanding and educate ourselves about different cultures and religions to foster empathy and understanding, making intolerance less likely.
For instance, we could promote events where followers of different religions and cultural communities could come together to break fast and engage in friendly dialogue. This would foster mutual understanding and respect.
Ultimately, fostering an environment where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their background, is the cornerstone of a truly harmonious Malaysian society.
To practise zero tolerance for intolerance, education is the key. Education helps individuals understand the impact of words and actions and promotes empathy and respect for different perspectives.
We should start with the young in schools. It is a given that our education system, with all its good intentions, is helping to build a society that is segregated.
And segregation leads to misunderstanding. And misunderstanding could lead to abuse and offensive behaviour.
Ultimately, a ‘zero-tolerance policy will help create a society where all individuals feel safe, respected and valued.
For our inspiration, we need not look far or beyond the Rukun Negara (National Principles) that was declared more than 50 years ago.
Rukun Negara promotes unity through five key principles: belief in God, loyalty to King and country, supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, and mutual respect.
It is timely for all of us to make a firm commitment to practice its principles to ensure each one of us will be entitled to our rights and promote multiracial harmony.
Surely the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia has an important role to play in stemming the flow of hate messages in social media following the incident at the convenience store.
It should act fast to nip these hate videos in the bud.
Our freedom of speech or expression does not extend to spreading hatred and ill will, and we have institutions entrusted with powers to deal with such situations.
