Wilfred Madius Tangau
KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has called for another 24-hour hotline to receive complaints about insults of any faith other than Islam so that every Malaysian can feel dignified and respected.
He said all belief systems, from Bahaism, Buddhist, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, to animism and humanism, and all communities – regardless of their ethno-linguistic-cultural origin, lifestyle and social status, must equally be protected from insults and ridicules too.
He said this should also include any ethnic group – Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Dusuns, Muruts, Rungus, Dayaks, Bajau, Melanau, Suluk, Bugis, Senoi, Negrito, Proto Malays, Siamese, Kristangs, other indigenous and non-indigenous groups, language of any speakers, practitioners of any culture and lifestyle.
“Respect for each and every religion, heritage, language, culture, lifestyle and identity is how we Sabahans and Sarawakians manage to live harmoniously and peacefully. It must be promoted nationwide covering every human.
“I am fully confident that the Madani Cabinet would support this idea as it is another manifestation of the value ‘respect’. I eagerly look forward to the announcement on this by National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago anak Dagang and the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) Director-General Datuk Hj. Che Roslan Che Daud.
“We need the third 24-hour hotline for the public to report on instigation and promotion of violence, which may lead to Molotov cocktails and other attacks of domestic terrorism.
“This is absolutely necessary because speeches promoting violence and intense hatred are more harmful and disastrous than verbal insults on belief systems and their adherents,” he said in a statement today.
The Emeritus President of United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) is also confident that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din would agree with him that instigation and abetting violence is the greatest threat to law and order and must be stamped down with no less seriousness than the ban of 3R (Royal, Race and Religion).
To ensure consistency and no double standard in law enforcement and to avoid abuse of these three hotlines by organised complainants, Madius said there must be clear guidelines on what amounts to ‘insult of Islam’, ‘insult of members of any religious, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and lifestyle communities’ and ‘instigation and promotion of violence’.
“Only with these well-crafted guidelines, we can better attain peace instead of building up the under-currents.
“I have all my trust and confidence that all the three ministers would do their best in setting up the three 24-hour hotlines and make Malaysia safer from violence and intense hatred.”
Madius, who is also Chairman of WISDOM Foundation, applauded the initiative of JAKIM to set up a 24-hour hotline for the public to report on any incidents of ‘insult of Islam’.
He said both Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Haji Mokhtar and JAKIM Director-General Datin Paduka Hajah Hakimah Mohd Yusoff must be praised for this excellent initiative.
“They truly materialise the value of ‘respect’ in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of Madani.
“Islam as the religion of the Federation and of all the states except Sarawak, and the religion of majority of Malaysians, must be protected from insults. Setting up this hotline should send a clear message to all Malaysians of all ethno-religious backgrounds that Islam cannot be insulted or made fun of.
“On the same logic, all belief systems, from Bahaism, Buddhist, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, to animism and humanism, and all communities – regardless of their ethno-linguistic-cultural origin, lifestyle and social status, must equally be protected from insults and ridicules too,” he said.
