INSULTING RELIGION: ACTION MUST BE GROUNDED IN LAW, NOT SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE, SAYS ACADEMIC 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Any action taken in a case, particularly one involving religious sensitivities, must be carried out in accordance with the law and established procedures, not influenced by social media pressure or emotional reactions, said Associate Professor Dr Mohd Izani Mohd Zain.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) said in today’s digital society, public perception is often shaped by swift reactions on social media, including demands for immediate action without waiting for investigations to be completed.

He said such perceptions arise partly because some parties believe the government should act instantly without awaiting the conclusion of investigations, whereas every criminal case management process is subject to standard operating procedures (SOP) and legal processes that must be adhered to.

“It cannot be denied that issues touching on religious sensitivities, particularly involving Islam and the Malays, are easily exploited by certain parties for political gain or to create societal polarisation.

“However, in an era where information spreads rapidly through social media, delays in sharing updates on investigations can also create room for speculation,” he told Bernama.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the public to fully leave it to the authorities to conduct investigations into issues of religious provocation, while stressing that allegations claiming the government had failed to act over an incident involving the desecration of the Quran were unfounded.

According to Anwar, in a country that upholds the rule of law, action is taken based on legal processes, not emotional pressure or perceptions shaped by social media.

Elaborating further, Mohd Izani said investigations conducted by the authorities require space and a reasonable period to ensure all aspects are thoroughly examined before any decision on prosecution is made.

However, he opined that in certain cases, there may be justification for investigation findings to be shared with the public more promptly and transparently, within the bounds of the law, to avoid misunderstandings and comparisons with previous cases involving insults to other religions that were perceived to have received swifter action.

“Clear and consistent communication from the authorities is important to prevent misunderstandings and speculation among the public throughout the investigation period.

“Overall, the government is not remaining silent in addressing this issue; rather, action is being taken through proper legal channels. A cautious approach is crucial, akin to drawing a strand of hair from flour — the hair must not break, and the flour must not scatter,” he said.

Meanwhile, medical officer and well-known influencer Dr Malar Santhi Santherasegapan said she was representing the Indian community in appealing for the investigation to be conducted seriously, transparently and expeditiously to prevent the case from dragging on.

She stressed that the alleged act did not reflect the practices, beliefs or culture of the Indian community and Hindu adherents in the country.

“We do not agree for this case to be prolonged for years or investigated for so long that it is eventually forgotten. Firm and fair action must be taken in accordance with the law so that there is no misunderstanding between communities,” she said in a post on her social media account.

Dr Malar also urged all parties not to associate the actions of certain individuals with the entire community, but instead to allow the authorities to conduct a comprehensive and professional investigation.

On Feb 25, a student of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) was detained to assist investigations for allegedly insulting Islam on social media and as of yesterday, 28 police reports had been lodged nationwide in connection with the case.

Kuantan District Police Chief ACP Ashari Abu Samah was reported as saying that the remand of the 21-year-old man, which ended yesterday, had been extended until March 3 following instructions from the  Public Prosecutor for several additional actions to be taken to complete the investigation.

-- BERNAMA