Missing the issues for the noise
THE recent brouhaha over the comments on social media about Malaysia’s monarchy is more complex than it first appears. The kneejerk public demand that companies terminate socially-errant employees, the politician’s reflex of drafting new laws as magic solutions for complex problems, and a back-sliding government that broke election promises by reintroducing the Sedition Act are merely symptoms of three more troubling issues that deserve closer examination.
To begin, I do not condone the actions of those accused of wrongdoing and I believe their comments were ill-advised. The reactions of citizens and our government are also not in question either, as they were well within our/their rights. There is already enough noise (although not much light) in the debates about free speech, what constitutes sedition, the unthinking ease of sharing ill-considered opinions on social media, and the strength (or fragility?) of institutions in the face of mere words.
Both sides are right and wrong at the same time, and are unfortunately talking past each other in absolutist terms that leave no room for mature consideration that the other party may be also right. The noise generated from these debates also detract from three more fundamental but under-discussed issues.
The first issue we are missing is the philosophical, social and ethical role of companies in Malaysia. Since 1945, the role of companies throughout the world has narrowed to only profit-making and shareholder-enrichment. There is now a welcome worldwide reassertion of their more complex roles to serve society, however.
In other countries, society holds companies to task for poor environmental (pollution), labour (modern day slavery in their supply chain), cultural (#MeToo) or financial (tax avoidance) actions. We Malaysians are silent about these four equally important topics, and instead choose to focus on the (enjoyable and easy) feelings of moral superiority and righteous indignation when we claim to have hurt feelings on someone else’s behalf and demand that companies take disciplinary action.
The issue is not whether companies can terminate employees for actions taken as a private citizen, but whether they should. Capitalism must have a socially-conscious role, but it is both wrong and impractical to ask companies to also be society’s moral guardians when we already have the legal system, religion and social pressure.
The second under-discussed issue is the almost ineradicable politician’s reflex of “a new law will fix this problem”. Many issues, including the dignity of our monarchy, are complex, nuanced and without magic overnight solutions. Existing laws already cater to this specific problem, but the challenge is always educating and sensitising the public and routine and predictable enforcement.
A new and perfect law with beautiful ideals and mandatory sanctions merely exists as vanity projects in a politician’s utopia, without real effect on the population. Please focus on improving the application of existing laws (for example, libel and slander) by legal precedent, tweaking of language, public sensitisation and predictable enforcement.
Further promises of “new-laws-as-magic” belittle the intelligence of Malaysians and undermine the issues at stake by raising false expectations that citizens don’t need hard work to get the society that we want.
The final underlying issue hidden by all the noise around false debates is the government’s back- sliding. It is understandable and forgiveable that many of the promises in Pakatan Harapan’s 100-day manifesto were unmet, as they grappled with governing a million-strong civil service, found problems greater than were disclosed, and dealt with bureaucratic and policy inertia.
What is more difficult to understand are the policy reversals, which are extremely different from failures to accomplish a stated objective. Two recent examples are the possible reversal of the promise not to elect politicians to positions in GLCs, and the effective reintroduction of the Sedition Act. These are failures of philosophy and principle, not administration and project management. Malaysia must check for this trend and not let irrelevant debates about tweets distract us from more important missions.
As Malaysians continue to take steps towards a better new Malaysia, we will be best served if we discuss and debate more important issues. These issues are tougher to contribute to and perhaps uncomfortable to broach, but with our famous tact and respect, we can get stronger, together.
DR KHOR SWEE KHENG Paris, France