Sultan Nazrin: Stop hate speech

Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration yesterday.

IPOH: Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has warned of the dangers of hate speech in the country which need to stop immediately.

Describing the act as a ticking time bomb, he urged the people to come to their senses and avoid doing this.

He said the voices that instil hatred between races and religions were still growing even after 62 years of independence.

“These excessive provocations between races and religious groups are a threat to our country.

“Placing dolls and hurling pork at mosques, placing of a cow’s head at a Hindu temple and spreading false news on social media will spark more hatred among each other.

“These disgraceful acts and hate speech need to stop immediately. It’s not healthy, as it puts the country in a dangerous situation, ” he said at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration yesterday.

He said a lot of people had been clouded by emotions rather than focusing on the facts of an issue.

“The more they let emotions take control of their judgment, the more shallow their minds get.

“It seems that whenever an accident happens on the road, changes to the school curriculum or mistakes made when flying the flag, these are being described as a racial or religious issue.

“We need to wake up and do something about it, ” he said, adding that the future generations of this country would be affected if nothing was done.

He said the political temperature after the 14th General Election was getting hotter by the day, caused by leaders from either side.

“There are also those who try to paint a bad picture of his political opponent, when they themselves are equally as bad, which further darken the skies of this country, ” he said, adding that all these were causing the temperature to rise which must be turned down.

Sultan Nazrin reminded leaders and politicians to carry the voice of moderation, reason and brotherhood so the multiracial people in this country could live in peace and harmony.

“Some leaders are fighting for their ego and jeopardising their self-value for the sake of getting political mileage.

“Is getting political support worth acting in such a way?” he asked.

“What satisfaction can they get when the blood of the people is spilled, bodies piled up, buildings razed and vehicles burned.”