THE two successive violent riots over the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Seafield is unacceptable, by any standard.

It is beyond any measure of decency to strike a civil servant, what more an innocent, unarmed Fire and Rescue Department personnel there to save lives.

Even during wartime, rescue personnel are known non-combatants and are off limits as targets. There is simply no excuse for the action of the mobsters.

While peaceful rallies and demonstrations are part and parcel of any democracy, destruction of public property and endangering the safety of bystanders isn’t. What more to torch parked vehicles owned by unrelated parties?

Past rallies, especially those under the previous administration, had managed to keep their often much larger crowds under control. Reformasi, Hindraf, the five Bersih rallies, Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat, Himpunan Hijau and many others were faced with much harsher action on the part of the police and enforcement agencies, even before the rally took place. Organisers were arrested, key people were picked up. Those wearing a certain colour were not allowed into the city. During the rallies, roads were blocked off and crowd control measures, like tear gas and water cannon, were used on people. 

There were even reports of undue force, both while arresting individuals and on those in detention.

Even with all the hindrances, the crowd almost always behaved with restraint. In all those rallies mentioned, other than an overturned police car and broken city council barricades, almost no damage to public or private property was recorded. The then government’s propaganda to paint the crowd as unruly and rowdy, too, mostly failed when city dwellers and foreign observers praised the behaviour of rally attendees.

Freedom of assembly has come a long way since those times in Malaysia. Yet, some saw fit to reward the restraint on the part of the administration by taking matters to a whole new level – by damaging property and endangering public lives.

While Hindraf protested the alleged wanton destruction of temples, the lack of consultation and fair compensation, and absence of due process, all appear to be adhered to with this case.

Two former leaders of Hindraf are even ministers, with both the federal and state governments involved. Either way, with the negative publicity now surrounding it, safe to say, public sympathy for the temple’s cause has reduced considerably. Unless of course, that is the intention of the troublemakers in the first place.

Unscrupulous parties can, and have, used this as political fodder, as is the common trend to make racial and religious issues the mainstream topic of the day.

The new government brought with it a lot of hope for openness, freedom of speech and liberty of expression. For the most part, it has been positive.

However, there should be clear lines concerning acts of violence, such as damaging property and stoking racial and religious sentiments, especially in matters that do not have anything to do with either.

Freedom of information should also not include freedom to disseminate lies that cause social unrest and sow discord or disharmony against any racial or religious group – another trend that has picked up since the last general election.

May 13, 1969, was a dark spot in our nation’s history, one that people who lived through repeatedly and consistently vow not go back to. Yet, it is strange that educated politicians and leaders continue to bandy it about frequently.

The government needs to be strict in handling these matters. Apart from enforcement, perhaps it is time to relook other causes that allow us to be so easily split apart as a community. For a time, harmony and trust were commodities found in abundance among communities.

Harmony and peace are things we continually need to work at, and some freedoms should be reserved for only those who deserve it. – November 28, 2018.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.