I HAVE said before that reading the news these days is very disheartening. However, reading and watching what transpired yesterday at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum is more than disheartening. More than sad even; it borders on being mournful.

Mournful because it appears that our value system has died. It appears that our ability to allow intellectual discourse has died. It appears that our tolerance and acceptance of different ideas has died. It seems that our culture of being soft-spoken and respectful of our elders has died.

While all of these have reached an early death, we now seem to have the birth of barbarism. I’m sorry, but lighting flares and throwing shoes and chairs is nothing short of barbaric. And, doing this when a 92-year-old man is speaking is nothing short of showing how uncivilised and uncouth you are.

Throw in the fact that this 92-year-old man used to be your prime minister for 22 years, and it becomes even more brutal and boorish. Add in the truth that this man was once revered by all and sundry, and you realise the depths of vulgarity that we have reached. How much lower can we go?

Reports of the incident have it that even bottles were thrown directly at our former prime minister. Apparently three youths, aged between 17 and 19, were handed over as suspects for having caused the ruckus. One has to wonder how many more suspects were actually involved, and one also has to wonder what had spurred these young individuals to commit such despicable acts.

You may say that it was an isolated case and involved only a handful of people. The point is, this is not the first time that we have stooped to such low levels. There are many instances of uncouth and uncivilised behaviour that have been allowed to happen in the past. Incidents that, because little or no action was taken, have encouraged more vile and despicable acts to happen.

We have seen butt waving, we have seen cow heads, we have seen coffins. Thinking back to all these makes me feel even more heartsick.

What is even more worrisome is that at some of these protests, there is also the threat to spill blood. Threats that seem to have been taken lightly by the authorities.

It can be considered somewhat ironic that peaceful protests, like Bersih and candlelight vigils, are frowned upon. The powers that be are quick to point out that protests are not part of our culture, and we should all stay at home.

And yet, the initial response to the ruckus yesterday was to insinuate that the organisers should have done more to ensure public safety. When other such protests are held – which seem to benefit certain parties – it may sometimes appear as if one eye is closed.

Part of running a country is to allow discourse and debate on differing ideas. You have to allow the public to question your policies and your actions, and provide a reasonable response to these questions.

There will always be differing opinions, and it would be wrong to stifle them in whatever form or fashion. Thus, it is heartening to note that our deputy prime minister today came out with a statement that violence should never be used despite differences in opinion.

My only fear is that unless stern action is taken against those responsible, the message that is sent out is that violent acts like these are acceptable. It will then fester and become worse, and ensure the complete moral decay of our society.

Let’s hope and pray that despicable acts, such as what happened yesterday, don’t happen again. Ever.

* Dharm Navaratnam reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.