No one should raise 3R issue for political mileage, stern action should be taken - Experts
SHAH ALAM - Regardless of who they are, stern action needs to be taken against those who use the 3R issue (race, religion, royal institution) as political mileage, analysts say.
Political expert Mujibu Abd Muis said stern action needed to be taken to ensure that no one would dare play with 3R issues especially during the state elections.
“Regardless of whom committed the offence, to ensure that no one will use 3R issues for political mileage, stern action must be taken,” he said.
He added that an apology through a letter was insufficient to be cleared of an offence of raising the 3R issue.
He was referring to caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s apology to the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah through a letter to explain his remarks allegedly insulting the royal institution.
Mujibu added that the action taken by the authorities would set as an example as the matter was becoming more serious and uncontrollable.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) political science senior lecturer said if serious action was taken against those considered as the ‘big names’ in politics, the 3R issue might not be raised again.
Meanwhile, Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said politicising 3R issues has its ups and downs, depending on the political desperation of those who raised such issues.
“While this may signal a temporary decline in raising such issues, it would not be long before they are raised again.
“Debate on socioeconomic policies may not work so well on green wave supporters, as they care most about religiosity,” he added.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said she viewed that there would be no potential decline on the 3R issue anytime soon, especially during the election season.
“People may now be more careful, but I think there would be slip-ups because some politicians are used to resorting to the 3Rs and they are only being investigated.
“We would like to think they would discuss policies more, which I can see a conscious effort to do so by the parties recently. But when speaking to their supporters, I see 3R issues would somehow creep up because it’s the most effective strategy in Malaysia,” she expressed.
Recently, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he had sent a letter to the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to explain the context of his speech he claimed had been twisted.
Previously, Sanusi who is Pas central election director allegedly uttered emarks that were allegedly insulting to the Selangor royal institution.
However, he claimed that the comments he made during a Perikatan Nasional (PN) ceramah recently were twisted.
He then sent a letter to Sultan Sharafuddin to apologise and explain his remarks.
