KUALA LUMPUR – Prominent civil groups and media outlets have united in launching the #MZB365 campaign to foster national reconciliation amid recent racial and religious tensions in the country, just in time for the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The initiative, which stands for “Maaf Zahir Batin,” – a practice deeply rooted in Malay-Muslim teachings and cultural values – aims to make seeking and giving forgiveness a continuous practice throughout the year, transcending religious and ethnic boundaries.
Recent incidents, such as the “Allah”-printed socks controversy and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek’s alleged mischaracterisation of the term “kafir,” have highlighted the fragility of unity among the multiracial communities.
“As humans, we inevitably make mistakes daily. By seeking forgiveness and extending grace, we not only mend relationships but also strengthen the fabric of our society.”
“The harms that we have caused to others, whether intentional or accidental, regardless of their scale, will remain and possibly destroy the harmonious ties between one another if we do not seek forgiveness with each other.
“The practice of ‘kemaafan’ (forgiveness) is not only a teaching in Islam but also in the value systems of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, and the natives of Sabah, Sarawak, and the peninsula,” said the groups in a statement.
They cautioned against following populist rhetoric fueled by hatred and conspiracy theories, which have destabilised nations and societies. Instead, they urged Malaysians, irrespective of race or religion, to emulate the solidarity witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic under the #KitaJagaKita movement.
“To promote the seeking and giving of forgiveness is more important than ever because there are individuals and groups who are seeking opportunities and pretexts to divide our society for their political, business and personal interests.
“They find faults that can be amplified to sow distrust and hatred so that they can emerge as their community heroes, to the point that some even break the law through arson and violence,” the statement read.
“Where laws have been violated, the rule of law must be upheld without compromise. When minds have been deceived by propaganda and lies, truth and logical thinking must be upheld. Meanwhile, there is no better antidote than grace, which may strengthen ties, reduce hatred, build trust, and defeat those who want to exploit circumstances.”
“Let’s make #MZB365 a success to counter ethno-religious hatred. Let us fight hatred with grace each day.”
The joint statement was endorsed by 18 civil groups, including Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, G25, Ikram Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, along with 19 media outlets, including Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop.my, as well as RTM, The Star, Malaysiakini, Malay Mail, Astro Awani, FMT, Bernama, Utusan Malaysia and NSTP among others.
However, the initiative welcomes participation from all Malaysians, emphasising its decentralised nature and inclusive ethos.
Those interested in contributing to coordinated efforts can sign up through a provided Google Form, with Projek SAMA overseeing operational coordination.
Yesterday, Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang revealed that cases involving 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues had jumped to 123% as compared to last year.
In the first quarter of this year, Aaron said there were 47 cases involving religious sentiments, hate speech and racially charged speech, compared to the 21 cases recorded in the same period last year.
He also said that between January and March this year, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission took down over 1,454 pieces of online content that touched on 3R issues.
Apart from the statistics, Malaysians are still seeing the effects of religious-centric issues involving “Allah”-printed socks that were found in a KK Mart branch in Selangor two months ago.
The issues sparked a nationwide boycott, led by Umno youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who is currently facing an investigation, and the KK Mart convenience store founder and director as well as the socks supplier were charged in court.
Following the issue, three KK Mart branches nationwide were subjected to Molotov cocktail attacks, with the firebombs exploding into small blazes at two of the affected branches.
Meanwhile, on March 31, Fadhlina became the subject of public scrutiny over an image of her along with the statement: “Kafir pun saya haramkan di rumah. Saya tak ajar anak saya sebut kafir” (I forbid (the word) kafir (infidels) in my house. I don’t teach my children to use the word kafir).
The statement had been circulated on social media.
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata confirmed that an investigation into the matter had been initiated. – April 7, 2024