Joint Press Statement By CSO-Media On The Launch Of The #MZB365 Movement
Date : 7 April 2024
We, civil society and media organisations, join forces to call upon all Malaysians to fight ethnoreligious hate speech and provocations with grace every day.
We call upon all Malaysians to take the practice of seeking and giving forgiveness (‘maaf zahir batin‘)
to the next level. This practice is a teaching in Islam, and also in the value system of Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism and the natives of Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula.
Let’s make seeking and giving forgiveness an all-year-long practice, not limited to the Aidil Fitri
festival and the month of Syawal, but from the first day of Muharam to the last day of Zulhijjah, from
1 January to 31 December, 365 days a year.
Let’s make this #MZB365 movement a success because as humans we make trespasses and mistakes
every day, therefore we have to be aware of them and seek forgiveness daily and be prepared to
forgive daily.
If we are reluctant to seek forgiveness, then the harms we have caused – intended or not, due to bad
deed or misjudgements, big or small – will stay and destroy ties between each other. Seeking
forgiveness and forgiving can happen between husband and wife; children and parents; between
students, parents and teachers; between neighbours; between colleagues; between strangers
whose paths cross each other‘s; between individuals who break laws and society; and between
different communities.
On the other hand, when we forgive, this does not mean that we have become weaker and
unwittingly encouraged more trespasses and mistakes. It is certainly not about compromising the
rule of law. When the trespasses are legal offences, the offenders must still face trial and
punishments. Pardon and commuting of sentences only happen when the convict is aware of his
wrongs, admits guilt, makes restitution and/or strive not to repeat the trespass.
To forgive those who sincerely seeks forgiveness actually strengthens us and the society as a whole.
It builds peace, reduces misunderstanding, eliminates hatred, strengthens ties between us, humans
who are created differently, so that we understand each other better from our differences.
To promote the seeking and giving of forgiveness is more important than ever because there are
individuals and groups who are seeking for opportunities and pretexts to divide our society for their
political, business, and personal interests. They find faults that can be amplified to sow distrust and
hatred so that they can emerge as their community heroes to the point that some even break the
law through arson and violence.
The phenomenon of populism built on hatred and conspiracy theories has paralysed countries,
destroyed societies, damaged economies, starved children, sunk dreams and even killed people in
many parts of the world. We must make sure Malaysia does not follow in their footsteps.
Where laws have been violated, the rule of law must be upheld without compromise. When minds
have been deceived by propaganda and lies, truth and logical thinking must be upheld. Meanwhile,
there is no better antidote than grace, which may strengthen ties, reduce hatred, build trust, and
defeat those who want to exploit circumstances.
The Malaysian people is capable of rising to the occasion before the toughest challenges. During the
Covid-19 pandemic, we have the #KitaJagaKita movement. To counter ethno-religious hatred, let us
do #MZB365, let us fight hatred with grace every day. Join and make this movement a success.
View the latest list of participating NGOs [Click Here]
