KUALA LUMPUR — With high-rise and gated living now the norm for many in urban areas, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) or neighbourhood watch groups under the National Unity Ministry are becoming a rarity.
Last night, however, KRT leaders in Sepang showed the importance of the initiative beyond conducting night patrols or organising neighbourhood activities, when they facilitated a session for a viral corn seller who had insulted Indian Malaysians to apologise to the community.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in a post on X said the corn seller made the apology at a restaurant in Sepang last night to all Malaysians and “particularly to the Indian community” which was represented by local residents of the area.
The minister praised local KRT leaders, an Encik Roseman and Encik Syawal, who acted as mediators to resolve the issue.
“Their role in addressing this matter has strengthened public confidence in KRT as an agent of unity and conflict resolution. This also highlights the importance of cooperation between community leaders and authorities in preserving a harmonious and peaceful environment,” Aaron said.
Also present to witness the corn seller’s apology were other local residents, officials from the National Unity and Integration Department, and the police. A social media influencer was also there to record the event.
“I wish to emphasise that we must always strive to ensure that our words and actions do not cause discomfort, tension, or misunderstanding among people of different religions, cultures, and ethnicities,” Aaron said.
“Malaysia is a country rich in ethnic and religious diversity, and it is our shared responsibility to safeguard this harmony. National unity can only be achieved if every individual practises the values of understanding, respect, and acceptance of differences.”
The corn seller had placed a sign openly at his stall which stated “Sorry, ini jagung tidak jual sama orang Keling”. It was captured in a video on TikTok and went viral, drawing condemnation from social media users.
The derogatory reference to ethnic Indians also drew anger from several leaders, including MIC’s deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, religious affairs minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, and PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Aaron said the trader promised not to repeat such actions again.
One person who hasn’t accepted the corn seller’s apology and the reconciliation efforts of the KRT, however, is Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh, who said legal action should still be taken against the trader.
“Regardless of who it is, legal action should be taken to teach others a lesson. If not, this kind of culture of merely saying sorry after committing the act will become widespread and such people will get away with their actions,” Akmal said on Facebook.
Meanwhile, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has suggested that the incident shows it is time Malaysia have an Anti-Racial Discrimination Act.
“The time has come to promulgate the Act to check and punish deliberate acts of inciting racial hatred and extremist acts targeted at any community purely on grounds of race or background,” Lim said in a statement.
That an “ordinary trader” could use such derogatory language “indicates the extent” to which such racist sentiments have “influenced certain segments of society”, he added.
“They can no longer be dismissed as just mindless farthings of extremist politicians,” Lim said. – February 17, 2025 – February 17, 2025