DAP’s lawmaker urges a multifaceted approach to combat extremism and violence
Malaysia must adopt a multifaceted approach to address the surge in extremist movements and violent crimes, said DAP’s Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee Chuan How.
He claimed that incidents unfolded in the last 48 hours such as the lone wolf attack on the Ulu Tiram police station and the capturing of two men with parangs at Istana Negara, highlight the urgent need to address the root causes of extremism and the growing proliferation of xenophobic and supremacist thoughts and narratives in public discourse.
“This is but a continuation from a long thread of incidences including an elected MP narrowly escaped death by arson, a senior academic escalates his anti-multiculturalism spiel and gets massive media space, a matter of constitutional right settled by the highest courts of the land in vernacular schools gets its higher than perennial salience, the Bak Kat Teh issue and others; all happening in the last quarter of the year,” he also said.
“Malaysia can, and needs to draw on the experiences of other nations, particularly those with similar social demographics such as the Middle East and other Muslim-majority countries that have faced similar challenges” he added, praising Saudi Arabia’s De-radicalisation Programs and Indonesia’s Counter-Radicalisation efforts.
He also added that the recent incidents of violence are symptomatic of the unchecked spread of hate speech.
“The growing prevalence of racially charged and ethnoreligious supremacist narratives in our public discourse is increasingly disconcerting,” he added.
“The rise of extremist groups like Jemaah Islamiyah and increased instances of armed attacks signals an urgent need for robust measures to curb hate speech and extremist ideologies,” he said in the same statement.
He recommended implementing the following measures.
Implementing legislation against hate speech
He said that urgent legislation is needed to address hate speech and incitement to violence directly, rather than relying on outdated sedition laws. He mentioned that These new laws should balance curbing harmful speech with protecting freedom of expression and religious practice.
Invest in comprehensive De-radicalisation Programs
“The government should invest in programs that offer religious
counselling, psychological support, vocational training, and community reintegration.
“The strategic imperative should be to rehabilitate individuals influenced by or under the influence of extremist ideologies and prevent recidivism,” Howard said.
Start with Education
Howard stressed the need for educational curricula to prioritize multiculturalism, tolerance, and mutual respect. Teaching youths about the dangers of hate speech fosters social cohesion and a strong Malaysian identity.
Engaging with the community
He suggested collaborating with religious leaders, scholars, and NGOs to promote moderate, inclusive, and harmonious interpretations of religion.
He said that community-based initiatives can counter extremist narratives and promote social harmony effectively.
Ramp up domestic research on terrorism & radicalisation.
He also said that the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the capacity and mandate to lead these efforts; it requires increased funding and integration into domestic counterterrorism strategies.
He added that addressing the surge of extremist movements and violent crimes is not merely a matter of law enforcement; it is a national security imperative that requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society.
Howard said: “By tackling the root causes of extremism and propagating an inclusive and tolerant public discourse, Malaysia can cultivate a safer and more cohesive nation for all its citizens.”
“Ultimately, the age-old adage of “stronger together” has never been more important, with these undercurrents of hate spilling out to the fore.
“The very fabric of our peaceful and harmonious pluralistic nation is seeing the beginnings of an existential attack. We must come together to do nothing less than nipping it in the bud,” he further said.
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