TWO incidents happened in the span of less than a week – both related to the debate on free speech and LGBT rights in Malaysia. 

The first was a bomb found under the car of prominent activist lawyer Siti Kasim. Police later confirmed it was an improvised explosive device. 

Siti is well known for her no-nonsense, abrasive nature as well as her willingness to take up such sensitive issues as Orang Asli land, to the chagrin of authorities and tycoons. 

She being an open target is one thing, but the silence from the authorities is another.  

This wasn’t a troll on her Facebook wall or even someone harassing her on WhatsApp. It was a threat serious enough to warrant several press conferences from the inspector-general of police and his deputy.

The fact that Siti stood for election against the present government (and opposition) or her proclivity for commenting on sensitive issues, which infuriates the conservatives, should not matter.  

The silence from the major parties save the MCA is deafening.

Overwhelming suspicion could be inferred from Siti’s association with LGBT groups, which have become anathema in Malaysia, politically speaking.

The topic has become so toxic that objective discussion is impossible.

A Malaysian life was threatened and we are lucky the bomb did not go off. 

Matty Healy of The 1975 did, however, at the Good Vibes Festival. What he thought was a brave show of defiance and a favour to the Malaysian LGBT community was in fact a selfish and ill-conceived publicity stunt that did not only cost the fans the rest of the show but the organisers a fair bit of money.

Burdened by a saviour complex, he displayed a blinding lack of judgemnt and empathy for his fans, who paid good money to watch the band and who might not share his ideals.

His arrogant actions could have set the struggle for LGBT rights in Malaysia back years. The community itself will surely suffer the consequences of his antics long after he has skipped town. 

Forcing one’s point of view down other people’s throats is counterproductive.

In the space of five minutes, Healy gave the conservatives more than sufficient ammunition against the LGBT in the country and set back the conversation on freedom of art and expression by decades. 

The authorities and politicians were quick to respond – albeit with a heavy hand – to his shenanigans. This was expected given the proximity to state elections.  The government must not be seen to slip up at this point.

The truth of the matter, however, is that the leaders must manage the country first instead of allowing politics to dictate the mainstream discussions.

Failure to take action to those spreading disharmony and destroying race relations, in the name of politics, is equally dangerous as the overzealous could overreach to bring people “in line”. 

If we continually do things this way for fear of repercussions, we risk running the country to the ground. – July 26, 2023.

* 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.