KUCHING, June 23: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women’s chief Kho Teck Wan has today condemned the acts of ‘storytellers’ who attempt to incite and spread hate among Sarawak’s diverse community by fabricating stories and fake news.
“These little stories created by ill-intended people aimed at planting hate in our society for their own propaganda and political gains.
“Inciting hate is a selfish act that will cause catastrophic consequences in the long run. Chaos creates political instability, hurts our economy and sacrifices human life.
“And the saddest part of all these is that those stories created were all fake,” she pointed out in a statement today.
Kho gave the example of a few cases including a recent video of Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing confronting a lady to resolve a local flood issue which had been cropped and altered to appear racial and sexist.
Another case, she shared, involved Dr Lam Shu Jie who had in 2016 discovered the solution to curing an antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Australia. She had become the pride of Malaysia, and a role model to all girls who wish to pursue a career in science.
“Yet some people created the fake news that she failed to get the JPA scholarship in Malaysia and turned her success story into a racial discrimination story.
“Her family had to clarify that she never applied for a JPA scholarship to begin with,” she said.
Kho added that it was also demonstrated in the provision of food aid during the Movement Control Order (MCO) where all sectors of society pooled together to help the vulnerable communities.
“Not only GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) but the opposition parties and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) had stepped up to provide food aid during the MCO.
“This shows that our society is generous and can work for common goals during a pandemic.
“Yet the GPS government’s food aid photos were used and made into corrupt and discrimination stories by some quarters,” she added.
These stories, Kho alleged, were created by ‘storytellers’ with their own propaganda who were willing to sacrifice harmony and unity for political gain.
“I urge Sarawakians to investigate any story that incite hate whenever they hear one. And we should condemn those who spread hate in our society.
“Unity among our diverse communities is Sarawak’s biggest asset. We are all peacemakers in our society. Don’t let those ill-intention storytellers ruin Sarawak’s peace and harmony,” she urged. —DayakDaily
