Experts Call For Dialogue Not Just Laws To Counter Hate Speech

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The country can better fight hate speech by promoting meaningful discussions across all segments of society, a media forum heard today.
Malaysian Media Council founding member Ashwad Ismail said while Malaysia has many laws that can be used against hate speech, the real solution lies in the people having a better understanding of each other.
“In the age of distrust, in the age where people start distrusting each other more than before, we really have to go down and engage with the people and have more conversations.
“This is where you have to close the gap. Meaningful conversations only happen when you really go down and meet that person.
“I’m talking about... to counter hate speech is about understanding,” he said.
Ashwad (above), who is the Astro Awani editor-in-chief, was a panellist at a forum held as part of the “Media Against Hate Speech” campaign.
The campaign was organised by the NGO Article 19 in collaboration with the journalist group Gerakan Media Merdeka and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
Others on the panel included Bernama TV head of programmes Gerard Ratnam, CIJ media strengthening programme officer Cynthia Lorraine Silva, and independent journalist Muzliza Mustafa as moderator.
Adding further, Ashwad said some people did not even realise that they were propagating hate speech due to a lack of understanding.
“They feel that it is just the freedom of expressing their views. Certain quarters of society don’t have that sensitivity.
“(Because) that wasn’t how they were brought up when they were small,” he said.
Personal biases
ADSMeanwhile, Gerard spoke about how the media can play its role in countering hate speech.
He stressed that every journalist should check their inner biases.
“I think all of us have grown up with our different biases. We’ve grown up with different religious backgrounds, different teachings, different schooling systems, which have all contributed to how we disagree with certain things another person does.
“And every time we write… if it sort of involves me, my inner bias comes out and says, hey, they’re talking about Christians, you know, maybe skew it this way.
“I need to look at my inner bias and say, how am I helping the Malaysians, every Malaysian at large? I really need to look at that.
“It’s very simple, it’s very cliche, but I really need to make sure that I’m checking my inner bias,” Gerard said.
At the campaign’s launch this morning, Article 19 senior programme officer Nalini Elumalai said it is aimed at encouraging journalists and media practitioners to counter hate speech and discrimination by telling the stories of people targeted by hate speech.
It also calls for journalists to promote ethical standards while reinforcing freedom of expression as essential to human dignity. - Mkini

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