Let’s stop destroying our peace

I WATCHED the Reformasi demonstrations on TV in 1998, witnessing how citizens protested, first against an unjust incarceration and then broadening their calls to demand political reform. They began advocating for greater democracy, for a more just society rather than one in which a leader controlled the institutions of authority with an iron hand.

I heard that the burning of cars at these spectacles were attributed to “agent provocateurs” who were trying to paint the demonstrations as wild and dangerous.

These protests were met with water cannon, very physical police responses and tear gas canisters launched in all directions.

Then I witnessed the Bersih rallies in the 2000s that brought out Malaysians from all walks of life, defying the authorities and braving the hot sun to demand reforms to our institutions.

These protesters were also met with the same force of water, gas and physical brutality.

All this came to mind as I watched the extremely violent and deadly protests taking place in Indonesia over the last two weeks.

The ones in Malaysia seemed to have been more “disciplined” and quite tame in comparison with those in Indonesia. In one protest there, fires were started in public buildings and the house of a Member of Parliament was sacked and looted.

Here in Malaysia more recently, there was a protest against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The “Himpunan Turun Anwar” (Resign Anwar Rally) in July saw a sea of people thronging some streets in Kuala Lumpur – but it was a sea of people of one race only, and most were wearing a uniform of black T-shirts with the same design. The himpunan dissipated in a most disciplined manner too. To me it seemed the whole thing was choreographed to look like a “people’s uprising”.

I was not fooled one bit because there was only one race present, and they had a common slogan of empty demands without offering credible solutions to those demands.

Then there was a group of students burning a drawing of Anwar and blaming the PM for everything they could think of.

Now there are multiple demonstrations seeking justice for a child who died tragically and who is said to have been the victim of merciless bullying. As a teacher I’ve been following the many cases of bullying making the headlines of late – some of which also included deaths – and it seems strange to me that none of them triggered any demonstrations. This is a case from Sabah, and guess which state will be holding elections soon?

The question I have to ask is this: Does democratic freedom mean that citizens can take to the streets to criticise without offering solutions? Should a legitimately-elected government and leader be asked to resign by demonstrators holding a nation hostage by burning buildings and threatening lives? Who should govern such deeds deemed “moral” and “legal” under the loosest concept of democracy?

Thanks to social media, such practices have now become a weapon of incitement that can be viralised into a nation-disrupting force. The rapid dissemination of outrage online can cause a ripple effect among those who live for their TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube reels – so rapid that a wave of discontent can be created without order, without verification, and most importantly, without waiting for a response from those affected.

They used to be one-off events that grew slowly with a groundswell but not so now that the Internet and social media have placed a serious and effective weapon in the hands of agitators with their own agendas (which is usually a search for power).

So how are we as a people to preserve our peace, our legitimate choice of leaders and our sanity amidst the rise of unthinking demonstrators and unverified commentary that now rule our lives?

I have given this much thought, and I think it is time that we, the learned citizenry, have to come to the aid of our nation in these turbulent times.

First, we must stop the viralising of unverified information that comes to us. Wait for verification. Press the pause button. We have to fight the instant gratification lifestyle that rewards – sometimes financially – the first to viralise something. We must do all we can to advise our children, friends and colleagues to press the pause button, just for 24 hours.

Second, we must ascertain the authenticity and clarity of information we receive, not in bits and pieces but as part of the whole story.

Most of the time it is we who are at fault for spreading information without context and clarity. We are the ones destroying our own country, our own people and our own peaceful existence.

Third, we must carefully judge commentary by those shouting in demonstrations or shouting in YouTube videos saying this is wrong and this minister or leader is a buffoon and unfit for his or her office.

When I hear such criticism, I ask myself who are these people to judge our leaders?

Most, if not all, have never been in the position of the leaders they’re passing judgment on; they weren’t present when decisions about issues were made.

It is fine to comment or criticise with decorum and humility and using the known facts while acknowledging there could be unknown ones. But social media commentators act like all-knowing gods, like they can replace the PM and ministers at a moment’s notice. Such gall unfortunately gets many viewers and supporters – which I think just goes to show the real price of “education” in this country.

The fate of this country, as I see it, lies solely with each and every one of us. Demonstrators and influencers will not rule the day and our lives if we stop and think rationally, humbly and without hate before pressing the send button. Our country’s malaise is actually our own fault, but fortunately, we are also our own hope.

Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at the Tan Sri Omar Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Studies at UCSI University. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.