By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 14: Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said netizens should be responsible and refrain from criticising someone according to their race, whether they are Chinese, Dayak, or Malay.
He added netizens should not add fuel to fire and make racist comments as Malaysia is a plural society.
“To me, calling people names by race is regarded as insulting and not good for prospering Malaysia.
“We must train ourselves to live in peace and harmony despite having the right to the freedom and expression of speech,” he said when met at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex today.
Abdul Karim was responding to a reporter’s request for comment on a recent news report in local media about Perak FC player Tommy Mawat Bada from Belaga who was called racial slurs by netizens after an on-pitch altercation between him and JDT player Arif Aiman Hanapi in a Malaysia Super-league match last Sunday (Nov 10).
Abdul Karim pointed out that even if freedom of speech is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution, it is still everybody’s responsibility not to utter such words or comments.
He urged all to work together to ensure the country runs well, and that the people live in peace.
“When we utter words and start calling someone by their race, it arouses the feeling of uneasiness. I look at it from this angle,” he said. — DayakDaily
