What a vast difference there is between the barbarism that precedes culture and the barbarism that follows it.
– Friedrich Hebbel, German poet and dramatist
Another slap. Another video. Another moment of humiliation suffered by someone merely doing his job, met with brute arrogance and disregard. This time, it was a security guard at a residential apartment complex; a foreign worker who was fulfilling his responsibility to ensure the safety of residents.
His only ‘crime’? Refusing entry to two men who did not produce a resident’s entry pass, as per protocol! What followed was a shocking and brutal act: one of the men emerged from the vehicle, walked up to the guard, and slapped him with such force that his cap went flying.
The scene was caught on video – now widely circulated on social media – and left many of us shaking our heads in disbelief and growing concern.
The security guard, rightfully, has lodged a police report at the Klang police station. But the deeper question remains – what is happening to us as a society? Why is this happening so frequently? And perhaps more disturbing – why is the response from our authorities and leaders so muted, so indifferent, so sluggish?
Just a few days earlier in Johor, another slapping incident made headlines. This time, an elderly government pensioner slapped a non-Muslim man for eating during Ramadan – an act the pensioner seemed to feel gave him moral authority over another citizen’s choices.
He has since claimed trial in court under a fresh charge after initially being granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal. The law is catching up, yes – but at a frustratingly slow pace.
I am getting disillusioned with society, and our leaders! One begins to wonder if these cases are symptomatic of something deeper and more troubling: a societal undercurrent of intolerance, misplaced superiority, and a dangerous tendency to take matters into one’s own hands.
But is that all? Or are these acts simply distractions; red herrings pulling our attention away from the more pressing, systemic problems that plague our nation? Rising costs of living, stagnant wages, job insecurity, rampant corruption, poor public service delivery – issues that affect every Malaysian, yet are increasingly buried beneath the sensationalism of virality and violence.
Are we being conditioned to normalise outrage in small, digestible doses, while remaining numb to the structural decay around us?
It is said that the true test of leadership is not how one acts during times of comfort, but during crises. Yet time and again, our leaders have chosen silence when their voices were most needed. The moral authority of governance lies not just in making laws, but in defending what is right, even when it’s unpopular or inconvenient.
Inaction is not neutral; it is a choice. And each time our leaders choose to remain silent, each time the authorities delay action, they inadvertently embolden those who feel entitled to take justice into their own hands. What starts as a slap today could escalate into more sinister acts tomorrow.
If this pattern of apathy continues, a time may come when the rakyat, the very people whose trust and votes our politicians seek, decide to return the favour. Not with violence, but with civil disobedience, social resistance, and perhaps, yes, metaphorically speaking, their own ‘slaps’ in the form of political backlash.
A government cannot afford to be seen as weak or indifferent, lest it loses the faith of those it swore to serve.
Let’s also use this moment to educate the public. Many people don’t know what their rights are when assaulted in public. While slapping may seem like a minor offence compared to more violent crimes, the law views it seriously – and so should we.
The first golden rule is: do not retaliate. As tempting as it may be, responding with another slap may land you in legal hot water. Instead, remove yourself from the situation and seek assistance from the authorities.
According to Sections 96-106 of the Malaysian Penal Code, there is a legal right to self-defence, but only under specific conditions. If there is time to seek protection from authorities, the law considers retaliation unjustified. Moreover, Section 99 clearly states that self-defence must not inflict more harm than necessary.
The next step is crucial: lodge a police report immediately. This initiates a criminal investigation and allows the law to take its course. If the authorities deem the act serious enough, the assailant may be charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt which is punishable with up to one year in prison, a RM2,000 fine, or both.
What many don’t know is that even a verbal threat followed by an aggressive gesture may constitute assault under Section 351. If someone says “I will slap you” and raises their hand in a threatening manner, that may be enough to establish intent and trigger legal consequences.
Beyond criminal charges, victims can also consider civil action – filing a lawsuit for damages under tort law. This allows victims to seek compensation for pain, emotional trauma, and reputational damage. It can even include demands for a public apology, either in private, on social media, or even through a newspaper announcement which is a symbolic but powerful form of justice.
Of course, this comes with its own costs – legal fees, time, and emotional energy – but it is a legitimate path, especially when criminal justice falls short or moves too slowly.
Nevertheless, whether it’s a criminal case or a civil suit, documentation and witnesses can make or break a case. Always try to identify those who witnessed the incident. Get their contact details. A video recording, such as the one that has now gone viral in this recent security guard case, is often the most powerful form of evidence.
In today’s world, a single mobile phone clip can carry more weight than a hundred statements.
It’s time for a national reflection. We must stop treating these incidents as isolated occurrences. A slap is never just a slap – it’s a sign. A symptom. A red flag.
When someone feels emboldened to publicly humiliate another person for doing their job or living their life, we must ask: what kind of society are we creating?
It is high time we re-evaluate our moral compass. It is time for our leaders to rise, not retreat. It is time for swift action, not bureaucratic foot-dragging. Justice delayed is not only justice denied; it is justice mocked.
If we don’t act now, what’s next? Will the slap be reserved for security guards and shopkeepers today, and tomorrow, for voters who dare question promises made and broken? If the law does not protect the vulnerable today, it will surely struggle to protect the powerful tomorrow.
Let’s act before the slap becomes a symbol; not just of violence, but of a country slipping into chaos under the weight of its own apathy.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
