KUALA LUMPUR – Netizens are growing increasingly concerned over escalating hate propaganda spread by certain irresponsible quarters who are inciting racial and religious tensions following the election results on Saturday.
Attention is being directed to disinformation and messages regarding the deadly May 13, 1969 racial riots that are being disseminated on short-form video application TikTok.
While the clips are posted by ordinary citizens, many social media users have allegedly determined that these uploaders are proponents of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
A few users are even claiming that some children in schools are openly discussing the danger of supporting a government involving DAP, in what appears to be a result of indoctrination by false narratives.
Worried by the disturbing trend, Malaysians are urging their fellow citizens not to buy into such propaganda and to maintain the long-existing peace in the country.
Newly elected Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan took to Twitter to express his grave concern over TikTok videos playing up the May 13 issue.
“This is what happens when we fan the flames of racism just to draw votes. We cannot allow this to prolong,” he said, referring to the videos, some of which allegedly show photos of machetes.
Video-video TikTok main isu 13 Mei 1969 amat membimbangkan. Kita tidak boleh biarkan sahaja.
— Syahredzan Johan (@syahredzan) November 21, 2022
Twitter user Lim Jack Kin, while acknowledging the May 13 riots as “part of our living history”, shared dreadful feelings about the near-death experiences that his own family members had in the incident some 53 years ago.
“My mom and grandma almost died, trapped in a cinema for days. Men in my dad’s neighbourhood were sharpening sticks after hearing Salak South was ‘flattened’,” he said
“They were children. 49 years later on GE14, they asked us not to go out at night.”
May 13 is part of our living history. My mom and grandma almost died, trapped in a cinema for days. Men in my dad's neighborhood were sharpening sticks after hearing Salak South was "flattened".
— Lim Jack Kin (@JackKinLim) November 22, 2022
They were children. 49 years later on GE14, they asked us not to go out at night.
Another Twitter user, Melissa Tiong, lamented that the tragic events of May 13 had left a mark on her grandmother.
“My grandma gets paranoid around election season because she still lives with those May 13 scars. I always brushed her off because I thought we are much more mature as a society now,” she said.
“I would like to continue reassuring her that it will be ok. But now I’m not so sure myself.”
My grandma gets paranoid around election season because she still lives with those May 13 scars. I always brushed her off because I thought we are much more mature as a society now.
— Melissa Tiong (@suettyng) November 21, 2022
I would like to continue reassuring her that it will be ok. But now I’m not so sure myself. https://t.co/SjoJjgpMpJ
MCMC warns of stern action
The netizens were referring to several racially tinged videos that have emerged on TikTok, with some social media users highlighting a compilation of alarming footage.
Twitter user Zulfadzli, a columnist with a local news portal who carries the handle @bumilangit, pointed out that some videos displayed deadly weapons such as the “kerambit” (curved knife) and machetes.
Siang tadi saya sebut yang di TikTok hangat dengan isu perkauman keras, sampai tunjuk kerambit dan parang.
— Zulfadzli (@bumilangit) November 21, 2022
Ini saya share, anda boleh tonton sendiri hasil carian 4 min, dipotong jadi 2 minit.
Perhatikan # yang digunakan di caption pic.twitter.com/dnvvFPJQRJ
Addressing concerns over incendiary content on social media, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) interim chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din issued a statement warning of stern action against netizens who promoted hate speech and provocative content.
Kenyataan Media
— MCMC (@MCMC_RASMI) November 22, 2022
PENGGUNA MEDIA SOSIAL DIINGATKAN UNTUK TIDAK BANGKITKAN SENTIMEN KEBENCIAN DAN PROVOKASI TERHADAP INSTITUSI RAJA, PERKAUMAN DAN AGAMA#MCMC#3R pic.twitter.com/f7M1ccm0Wd
Salim said that the MCMC will continue to monitor the spreading of disinformation and insulting statements towards the three “Rs”, which are race, religion, and royalty.
“Any sharing of content that is false, insulting, and threatening is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said.
He added that convictions under the act could lead to a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a one-year prison sentence, or both.
He also said enforcement would be carried out with the assistance of police based on complaints received from the public and in line with the provisions of the law.
Responding to concerns over content on its platform, TikTok had reportedly said yesterday that it continues to be on “high alert” and will “aggressively remove” content that violates its community guidelines, including video, audio, livestream, images, comments, links, or other text.
“At TikTok, we have zero tolerance against any form of hate speech and violent extremism. As it relates to May 13 content, we quickly removed videos which were in violation of our community guidelines,” it was quoted as saying by Malay Mail. – The Vibes, November 23, 2022
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