My biggest weakness is my sensitivity. I am too sensitive a person.
— Mike Tyson, boxer
It does happen in other countries from time to time, but the ‘sensitive’ words issues seem to be an epidemic in Malaysia.
I do understand and accept that certain words and phrases are considered ‘sensitive’ and therefore can be prohibited because of their potential to misinform, deceive or insult the general public or in some situations specific racial, cultural or religious communities.
This type of prohibition also extends to signage and symbols in some cases. Some local authorities in Malaysia have also banned multilingual road signage.
I am just wondering, is it just me or do you also feel that we are increasingly faced with words or issues that would normally not even merit a second glance as being ‘sensitive’.
I have been at some meetings where matters are either not discussed further or decisions made without further discussion because a person says it is ‘sensitive’ and therefore deemed privileged.
Are we becoming a nation of thin-skinned and oversensitive people? Perhaps I am being insensitive with my opinion.
I am not sure how the latest nonsensical episode in Malaysia originally came into existence. Like you, most likely, I read about it in social media.
I am of course referring to the ruckus over the ‘Timah’ Whiskey brand name that has become a national issue and even landed in a Cabinet meeting despite all the health and economic woes we are facing.
In this latest hot topic, the word ‘Timah’, which refers to the metal ‘tin’ in our national language, has gone through some perhaps intricate and elaborate thought processes and been interpreted into a name ‘Fatimah’ and therefore deemed unacceptable for use.
A Member of Parliament during a parliamentary session even went to great lengths to elaborate that it implies, to put it respectfully, drinking the ladies of a race.
This immediately led to many comparisons of products that have people’s names as brand names being drunk or eaten. The comical spins offs have been just hilarious.
I came across another one, Bukit Timah, a hill in Penang. The query was, is it now offensive to climb this hill, since a person who climbed these hills would be deemed to have climbed a lady by the name inferred.
The answer is certainly not, but by extension of logic from the ‘Timah’ Whiskey issue, it would certainly mean that the hill has to be renamed as well. Even Jalan Timah would have to be renamed, as we surely cannot have anyone walking on her.
Mind-boggling indeed, considering that this alcoholic beverage has severely affected people’s minds without it being consumed.
Many of these so-called ‘sensitive’ issues are unwarranted and are possibly conjured up due to a lack of exposure to broad-minded thinking, a tunnel vision approach to life and thereafter the issues are high jacked for political purposes to garner support from a specific segment of society.
Unfortunately, we have sheep in our society who do allow themselves to be led by their nose and blindly accept bigoted views without either caring for or comprehending the wider negative consequences. We need to alert ourselves as a people to identify situations where religions are hijacked for political purposes rather than for the betterment of society.
Censorship has long been an issue in Malaysia. The authorities due to pressure from religious-based bodies seem to be unable to adapt to a modern-day internet-connected knowledge-based society.
This is despite Article 10 of the Federal Constitution that states subject to certain conditions, “every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression”.
Religions are belief systems that relate humanity to spirituality and are for us to practise as we deem fit as long as it does not harm anyone else. It should also not be imposed on others.
We have regularly been courting international attention for all the wrong reasons and should not portray our nation as being an ignorant or unknowledgeable nation with people having limited outlook and experience or as the saying goes, “katak di bawah tempurung”
Words may cause hurt. They may be misinterpreted. Some national-level politicians certainly know how to twist words to fit into religious political agendas.
But on the other hand, some politicians can create an environment of peace and stability as well. Words can calm a state of affairs and give comfort and confidence to all communities to practise their religion peacefully, such as the following string of words.
“Your religion is your religion; my religion is my religion. Whatever you believe and do is between you and God.” — Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The views expressed are those of the columnist and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
