KUALA LUMPUR – Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee Chuan How has called upon the government to consider adopting multifaceted approaches to address the worrying surge of “extremist movements” and violent crimes.
This suggestion came after a series of incidents, including the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station on Friday, which resulted in two policemen killed and another injured.
Just one day after the incident, police arrested two men for attempting to trespass Istana Negara yesterday. They were reported to have a “parang” (machete) in their car.
Lee said that the escalating prevalence of racially charged and ethnoreligious supremacist narratives in public discourse is increasingly disconcerting.
Therefore, he suggested that the government consider examining several deradicalisation policies implemented by countries such as Saudi Arabia with its “Sakinah Campaign”, or Indonesia with its “Deradikalisasi” campaign.
Malaysia should emulate them by implementing several policies, including legislation against hate speech, he added.
“There is an urgent need for legislation that specifically targets hate speech and incitement to violence and does not rely on existing sedition laws.
“These laws should focus on curbing speech that incites hatred and violence while protecting legitimate freedoms of expression and religious practice.
“The government should also invest in matters such as comprehensive deradicalisation programmes, which 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,” he said in a statement today.
He suggested that the government should explore educational initiatives, such as teaching youths about the dangers and impacts of hate speech, as well as emphasising the importance of social cohesion.
The DAP central executive committee member also said that community engagement is paramount for religious leaders, scholars, and non-governmental organisations to collaborate and promote moderately inclusive and harmonious interpretations of any given religion.
This, he said, would help counteract extremist narratives and foster social harmony.
“The government could also look into ramping up Domestic Research and Terrorism and Radicalisation, through the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT).
“SEARCCT is under the Foreign Affairs purview, which has the capacity and institutional mandate to conduct such research.
“They just needed to be scaled up in depth and intensity, so more funding and their increased integration into domestic counterterrorism efforts must be considered.
“Addressing the surge of extremist movement and violent crime is not merely a matter of law enforcement, it is a national security imperative that requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society.”
He further added that tackling the root causes of extremism and propagating an inclusive and tolerant discourse would lead to cultivating a safe and cohesive nation for Malaysians.
“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.” – May 19, 2024
