Comprehensive Framework Needed To Address Hate Speech, Preserve Malaysian Unity, Says IDFR Expert

By Mikhail Raj Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) – An expert researcher from the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) says a comprehensive framework is needed to address hate speech to foster an inclusive society and stop the menace from disrupting the fabric of unity among Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural populace.

Dr Murni Wan Mohd Nor advocates for this in her 91-page book entitled “From Hate to Hope: A Holistic Approach to Address Hate Speech”, which will be launched on January 17.

She said there is currently a lot of ambiguity regarding hate speech which poses a problem not just for the public at large but also enforcement officers including the Police to “actually ascertain what is hateful and what is not.”

“If we do not have a definition for hate speech, then anything and everything said or written may even be considered somewhat offensive,” she said during Bernama TV’s “The Nation” programme yesterday.

Murni, who is also a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said the book would be available to the public on the IDFR website in PDF format after its launch this Friday.

It will be launched by IDFR which is an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To a question from the programme's host Gerard Ratnam, she said from interviews with the Royal Malaysia Police, they too highlighted the experiences and challenges in enforcement owing to a lack of a comprehensive framework to address hate speech.

“The Police shared that sometimes, they cannot take action with regards to certain things until and unless it clearly falls within or against certain laws, such as the Communications and Multimedia Act or the Penal Code.

However, Murni clarified that having a specific law on hate speech is not aimed at making freedom of expression more restrictive.

“We don't want to penalise everyone for saying slightly offensive things but the importance of having a proper legislative framework is to address this problem and the book actually explains that.

Without a comprehensive framework, she queried whether “academic freedom allows for us to say or talk about certain things or whether the media will be held responsible for some critical things that we are saying although it's in the interest of truth, etc.”

She commended the government for actively trying to protect against hate speech through the promulgation of the Online Safety Bill and the amendment to the Communications and Multimedia Act which also aims to protect individuals against harmful content.

Nevertheless, she said the government can’t do it alone in addressing hate speech, which is why her book highlights the importance of a holistic and whole-of-nation approach, working with other stakeholders to combat the menace including diplomatic, effective communication strategies and the power of counterspeech initiatives.

She said the values highlighted within the book were also in line with the theme for “Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, which is "Inclusivity and Sustainability' and how can we actually become a developed nation and region.

“If we allow hate speech to continue affecting our lives, whatever progress that we attain is never going to be sustainable,” said Murni.

-- BERNAMA