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PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad should issue a public apology for a controversial statement about the recent racially motivated attacks in France, says the Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
CIJ said that Dr. Mahathir should use his position and seniority as a public figure to educate the masses and promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination, rather than abusing social media to provoke and incite hostility.
“Dr. Mahathir must issue a public apology for his comments without further delay and issue a retraction statement. His blog post on the subject should also be removed immediately, ”CIJ said yesterday.
ICJ, in condemning Dr. Mahathir’s comments, said that while international law recognizes freedom of expression, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that anyone must be free from incitement to discrimination.
He also cited various anti-discrimination conventions and said that a person of Dr. Mahathir’s stature should be careful with words because of the far-reaching repercussions.
“It is alarming and tremendously irresponsible for the former prime minister to spread the aforementioned message, since such virulent and hateful statements can trigger the worst actions, such as provoking violence or imminent crimes,” added CIJ.
Sarawak Senior Deputy Minister Tan Sri, Dr. James Jemut Masing, has said that the rule of law must be respected and that Dr. Mahathir’s comments are solely his own.
“The law of civilized nations is that no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands, much less take someone’s life just because that person does not agree with their beliefs or their position on certain issues.
“This is why we have laws and a judicial system to make sure we don’t go back to the laws of the jungle,” James said, adding that Dr. Mahathir’s comment on the murders in France is a reflection of who he is as. person.
“He is not from Malaysia. We live and are governed by the rule of law, ”he added.
However, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that everyone should read Dr. Mahathir’s statement in its entirety before reacting.
“The world should calm down and read @ chedetofficial’s statement in its full context. I’m sure he didn’t mean exactly what he said.
“And even if he did, it is his personal opinion, not that of Malaysia,” he tweeted yesterday, where he also branded Dr. Mahathir’s name.
However, Najib added that Dr. Mahathir’s social media accounts “should be taken down before he does any more damage.”
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