KUALA LUMPUR: Politicians must take heed of the prime minister's call for stern action against situations that threaten the country's unity across races and societies, says a socio-political analyst.

Following the recent controversy surrounding KK Supermart, Professor Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi said the current situation was heavily skewed.

Earlier, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that cases involving racial harmony needed to be dealt with firmly according to existing laws. 

Acknowledging that the prime minister had addressed all parties in his statement, Tajuddin said Umno leaders must equally ensure its members did not fan the flames further. 

On March 20, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Salleh said that he would not budge from the stance of urging Malay and Muslim individuals to boycott any business entity that insulted Islam.

He said there would be no compromise with the involved parties who deliberately incited Muslim rage by actions that insulted religion and the Malay race.

"Unless there is a war scenario, it is imperative to react appropriately even when faced with the harshest threats especially when a human error is being addressed," said Tajuddin.

The former member of the Consultative Council for People's Harmony (CCPH) also necessitated the need for authorities to monitor online discussions and threads more effectively.

"The police also need to police social media," he said.

"This behaviour of vilifying and insulting others will only serve to further divide the country, potentially leading to vigilantism. 

"What is freedom of expression without taking conscious responsibility for what you say?" added Tajuddin.

Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangauhas has also called for greater sensitivity and fairness in the handling of the KK Supermart fiasco and the recent uproar over socks bearing the word "Allah".

In a press statement today, Madius said the issue had sparked reactions that were out of proportion, underscoring the importance of ensuring fairness in the resulting consequences.

He said: "As a Sabahan with a diverse circle of Muslim friends and relatives, I understand the emotions stirred by the case.

"However, the focus should not only be on whether an action is offensive, but also on countering negative publicity and rebuilding goodwill."

While the public must adhere to the wisdom of "to each his own" and respect every religious congregation or cultural community's right to decide what constitutes offensive acts, Madius added that disproportionate punishments might provoke the flouting of laws.

Meanwhile, former MP Tawfik Ismail lauded the prime minister's statement but noted that some of the propagation was done by members of the unity block.

"In some instances, matters were taken into their own hands, which (indirectly) undermined his (PM) authority."

Tawfik said politicians also needed to be reminded that the king was the supreme authority to adjudicate matters pertaining to Islam.

He added that there was a growing sense of empowerment among people to voice their opinions on social media, indicating the vitality of democracy. 

However, he agreed that public education on constitutional matters was insufficient and certain segments of the public were degrading the right to free speech.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1030349/political-propagation-threatens-unity-says-analyst