WHO says we cannot talk about 3R? I don’t mean reduce, reuse and recycle, so as to build a sound-material-cycle society through the effective use of resources and materials nor the other 3R (race, religion and royalty).

Politicians from both sides seem to have a habit of drifting towards topics surrounding race, religion and royalty to attract votes. Both will be talking about their rights, but what about the rights of the people?

I would propose we talk about the new 3R. Reformasi (the war cry since 1998), Reinvent Malaysia and Respect for all. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has a big role to play here.

Meantime, the government wants stability by warning those playing up the 3R issues and the MCMC and the police will be monitoring everyone. A special unit will be set up to deal with this issue.

There is also a proposal for a new Act to impose civil penalties on those who play up 3R sentiments. Don’t we have the penal code, the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998, which clearly have specific sections to bring any individual to court?

Aren’t we regressing and wasting time and resources?

The main culprits who day in, day out talk about the 3R are the politicians themselves and they want to enact a new law to curb it!

I cannot warn them but would strongly urge them to discuss vision, long-term plans, strategies and action plans to control high-cost-of-living and other national issues for the betterment of the country and not one-upping one another.

We want to save this country from people who are desperate for power and we want people who can lead us to become a developed nation. 

We have wasted a lot of time.

Malaysia Madani’s vision of a civilised, skilled and inclusive society should be able to handle this issue in a civilised manner, and also restore our dignity and glory in the global arena.

The first 3R aim to reduce, reuse and recycle waste to help save landfill space and keeping useful materials out through the effective use of resources and materials.

In today’s context, we need to reduce conflicts, reuse good policies and if possible, recycle “bad” politicians into reusable “material” to save the country. We have to reduce the amount of waste we created and keep the useful politicians in.

We need them to be effective and make a difference.

By the way, there is also a 4R, the fourth being Replace.

What say you… – July 21, 2023.

* Saleh Mohammed 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.