While coming across as an extremely kind and affable ruler, the distinguished Perak Sultan is also known to be firm and decisive.
It seemed like a fitting reminder when Perak ruler, Sultan Nazrin Shah, cautioned that the nation appeared to be drifting further away from unity as racial and religious issues were being increasingly sensationalised; unsurprisingly, the following day it was reported that controversial Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria was suspended for six months from the Perak State Assembly for making slanderous and racially-charged allegations last December!
For the record, the outspoken Razman had falsely stated that some Malaysian citizens had raised the Chinese national flags during an event in Teluk Intan last year.
However, a local Chinese association (Guan Gong) had clarified that the flag-raising incident took place during a cultural festival and that they were actually raised by Chinese national participants - not by any Malaysians!
Alarmingly, back then the controversy had sparked a large counter-rally attended by around 400 people with Razman in attendance; thankfully, there were no untoward incidents although police were said to have called up the organisers.
Meanwhile, in his speech at the opening of the Perak state legislative assembly, Sultan Nazrin had stressed that there were individuals exploiting certain sensitive issues to gain recognition as champions of their respective community or faith.
The highly-regarded ruler also cautioned that the “seeds of hatred” were being sown across the nation, eroding the moral compass of the people and diminishing their sense of empathy when dealing with those who held different views from them.
Do we want a nation where its people become increasingly divided, harbouring hatred and animosity towards each other?
He further expressed deep concern over the rise in “hate-driven” politics, which he said has become a favoured tactic in the current political landscape with (sensitive) issues being deliberately amplified and manipulated, risking the triggering of wider tensions (within the country’s multiracial society).
In light of that, the learned Sultan advised the public to be vigilant by addressing challenges not with hostility or provocation, but with wisdom and a steadfast commitment to finding peaceful resolutions.
He recalled how, during the recent gas pipeline explosion tragedy in Putra Heights, the leaders of Masjid Al-Falah in Subang Jaya and the Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple on Jalan Putra Harmoni had graciously opened the doors of their respective houses of worship to victims and emergency responders - with the temple even welcoming Muslims to perform their prayers within its premises!
Sultan Nazrin's life lessons about humanity from the humble hospital…?
Sultan Nazrin then used the analogy of the hospital when highlighting how they often played a silent yet crucial role in uniting Malaysia’s diverse society, bridging differences in ethnicity, faith, culture, language, and social status, before adding; will the doctor in a hospital refuse to treat a patient because of different religion, race, or economic background?”
Interestingly, the Perak Sultan also appeared to ask: do we hear of patients questioning the origin of a blood to be transfused - whether the donor is Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, or from a different social or economic status?
He then went on to illustrate how “shared sorrow” is a common sight in times of loss inside a hospital ward, where the medical staff and fellow patients alike, irrespective of their background, usually feel the weight of grief, with some even shedding tears, when one of the patients passes away.
Is it time for tough action, without any more final warnings…?
Sultan Nazrin’s timely reprimand appears to capture the broader concerns in this country where race relations and religious tolerance have taken a significant beating; but are those who are adamant on stirring up discord and disharmony ready to dial down their rhetoric?
Or is it time to do away with “warnings” and instead take prompt action to compel unremorseful rabble-rousers to face the full force of the law - just like the “harsh” 6-month suspension meted out to the PAS Perak chief?
In closing, shouldn't the Madani administration and other state governments also take the cue from Perak by adopting an “uncompromising” stance when dealing with 3R offenders - regardless of their status and political affiliations? Seriously, is there any other way to arrest the “breakdown” of peace, unity and harmony in an increasingly fractured society?
Main information source: Malay Mail and The Star.
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