Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

THE recent attempt on the life of Siti Kasim is horrifying and detestable to many concerned Malaysians, especially those who are averse to violence and other undemocratic actions.

It is also ghastly that an improvised explosive device planted in the undercarriage of the activist-lawyer’s car indicates a certain mindset among some quarters who do not take kindly to dissenting voices.

Siti is well known for being outspoken about things that are close to her heart, in particular justice, human rights, freedom and democracy.

She is also known to have irked certain religious groups in the country in the wake of creeping conservatism among Muslims, at times to the point of mocking her targets of criticism.

Her loud criticisms could range from an attack on moral policing by the religious establishment to a swipe at those who humiliated the collective dignity of the marginalised and the dispossessed.

In fact, Siti only managed to detect the bomb after sending her car for servicing, prior to her planned trip to Kelantan to provide legal counsel to an Orang Asli community for a court case.

Her presence in the political landscape is greatly felt, thanks to her appearances on various social media platforms as well as in her critical writings. It is here where she identifies the wrong in society that she wants to right.

You don’t have to agree with her all the time, but nonetheless her right to freedom of expression must be respected even if it is a dissenting viewpoint.

The attempt to kill her suggests the inability or refusal of certain quarters in our midst to appreciate differing opinions in our diverse society that are normally expressed in a civilised fashion.

More importantly, different views must not be responded to in a violent and diabolical manner. Such a reaction constitutes not only a form of anti-intellectualism but also an act that would send shivers to others who have views different from others.

In other words, a violent response would spawn a culture of self-censorship that is unhealthy to the development of democracy in the country.

As it is, Siti often expresses views that rightly represent those of the silent Malaysians.

The cavalier action of the authorities in the past banning a staged play, a book or a film only reinforces the bigoted notion of certain people that what you disagree with should be wiped off the face of this earth.

That is why the deafening silence of the authorities, particularly our leaders, so far over a matter as serious as this attempted murder will send the wrong signal to the perpetrators, who should have been vigorously condemned in no uncertain terms.

Incidentally, are we to assume that most politicians have kept mum over this issue because Siti’s views often do not sit well with theirs?

We would also expect a thorough investigation by the police so that the culprits can be apprehended eventually, and at the same time, police protection is to be accorded to Siti.

To be sure, an attempt on Siti’s life is not the first of its kind.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan received a death threat in 2011 if she and her committee went ahead with a planned rally to demand clean and fair elections. They soldiered on.

Additionally, it would seem that female personalities are considered “easy targets” for those culprits who disagree with them.

Despite the attempt on her life, Siti is defiant to continue with what she has always been doing.

We appreciate and respect her grit and compassion. However, the same cannot be said of the curious muteness of the powers that be. – July 25, 2023.