STRENGTHEN TOLERANCE AND UNITY AMONG MALAYSIANS

Left unchecked, ‘unhealthy elements’ can have dire consequences

IN the run up to the 2018 Budget, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, at a briefing to editors in Putrajaya, stressed that Malaysia’s economic growth must be based on both the capital economy and the people economy.

“These two components are intertwined. They cannot be separated,” he said.

Various statistics and economic data — gross domestic product growth, trade flow, foreign direct investments, for example — indicate that the economy is on track to outperform earlier expectations this year, growing between 5.2 and 5.7 per cent.

For next year, economic growth has also been forecast at five to 5.5 per cent. The target is realistic, as attested by economists from the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research and the World Bank, among others. In short, the positive numbers tell us that the capital economy is healthy.

Efficient management of the economy should ensure that the benefits spill over to the people.

When we talk about people and society, however, troubling symptoms seem to tell us things aren’t all that well. There are some “unhealthy elements” that need “preventive medication” before the situation deteriorates.

First, tolerance and unity among Malaysians of various races must be further strengthened.

Cracks have started to appear, for example, restrictions at places of business and services, neighbours riled up over cultural and religious practices, and discriminatory or disrespectful ads.

Isolated or not, these cases are easily amplified in social media and chat groups, and can give rise to further damaging remarks and insensitive comments, regurgitated with reckless abandon given the relative anonymity on the Internet.

With the general election around the corner, opportunists and anarchists will take advantage of these cracks to exploit and widen them for their own perverted interests. We must not let that happen.

Whatever slogan used — Sehati Sejiwa, Unity in Diversity, My Country or 1Malaysia — the message that must continue to be drummed home is that we are all children of this great country, brothers and sisters in arms.

Second, something needs to be done about the state of mental health among Malaysians. The stories of people who seem to have “lost it” and endanger others — even their loved ones — are becoming far too frequent.

This month alone, there have been at least six reported stabbing cases, five of them fatal. Three of them involved family members — a 27-year-old woman was stabbed by her nephew, a woman stabbed her husband and a 32-year-old man was stabbed by his nephew.

How could this be happening? Is it because of the deep-rooted psychiatric issues of the attackers? If so, why wasn’t it treated? Was it due to external pressure? Pressure from work, personal or money issues? Are families unable to diagnose or deal with loved ones who are mentally unwell? How can they get help?

These questions need to be addressed. As we march towards developed nation status, with top-notch infrastructure, facilities and services that are on par with advanced economies, we should continue to identify and care for the marginalised in our communities. This is also part of inclusiveness.

Which brings us to a third symptom: we are in danger of becoming desensitised to human suffering. This is often attributed to over-exposure via various media — movies, video games, television, social media as well as mainstream and alternative news.

People can lose compassion when bombarded daily by pictures and videos of tragic road accidents, vicious brawls and inhuman acts of violence. Often, the original source material is only intended to attract viewers, likes and shares. There is no moral or lesson attached. Postings on social media can attract equally heartless comments from viewers.

We make it worse by sharing them without attempting to break this vicious cycle. If you have to share, add a message to pray for the safety of the victims, remind people to drive carefully, be courteous to others on the road, or plea for calm, rational minds and patience.

Some might say it sounds petty and won’t amount to much, but every little bit helps.

These malignant symptoms, if left to simmer, could spread and become pervasive. Any society that condones intolerance, marginalises the weak, and is uncaring to others, would not truly prosper.