Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Minister, Gobind Singh Deo, has gone on the record to state that further laws need to be pushed ahead to regulate hate speech, stating that developed laws should also facilitate charging those who commit offenses outside of Malaysia.
His statement comes hot off the heels of comments made against the director of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Amar Singh by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin last week. Via his website Malaysia Today, Raja Petra alleged that police absconded with RM40 million (US$10 million) from raids on Najib-related residences earlier this year. In response to the allegations, Amar Singh called for the blogger to present substantiated proof, and to present himself to file a police report.
In his Facebook post, Gobind Singh alleges that the attack by the blogger on the director’s turban was uncalled for, “demeaning, and racist.” He added that it was tantamount to an affront on the whole Sikh community.
“It undermines the most basic values we Malaysian’s uphold, which is mutual respect for each other,” he wrote.
“We are a multiracial and multi-religious society. We cannot and must not allow such attacks against any one of us to go unnoticed. This is an example of why it is we need to push ahead for laws which regulate hate speech.”
Hear, hear, Minister. Can we include the makers of hate-filled snack ads on that tip too?
