In this day and age, the immediate reaction most people usually have when it comes to social and political issues are posted on to social media.
As a journalist, my immediate reaction most of the time is to post something on social media as well. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram being my preferred choice.
Then of course, since I have the outlet, I will write about it in more depth in my columns or even in my video reports and documentaries.
And in this day and age, reaction and response from others to our comments are also very immediate and, most of the time, without much thought.
Yesterday, I posted an article in the Malay Mail on Facebook and Twitter about deaths in police custody and how Malays and Chinese detainees have died too aside from Indians.
This is, of course, my response to the recent death of N. Dhamendran while in police custody. And we all know that the policemen who were allegedly involved have now been charged.
All of a sudden, a person on my friend list commented that when other races die, no fuss is made. But when Indians die, everyone makes noise.
And he adds, apparently, that when an Indian dies, they all make noise as if Malay policemen are so evil. Now just back up right there.
The point of the Malay Mail article, and the reason why I posted it on social media, is that it is not about race at all.
64 Malays, 30 Chinese and 28 Indians have died in detention between 2000 and 2010. It means that various Malaysians of different ethnicities have died.
I strongly believe that the fuss made about this issue by Malaysians and by the media has never been about the fact that Indians have died. It is that Malaysians have died.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but there was never any issue made about the ethnicity of the policemen who was allegedly involved in N. Dhamendran’s death.
That’s the problem with many Malaysians today. Everything is filtered by race and ethnicity, thanks to how our societal system works.
It doesn’t matter if more Malays die or if Indians suffer more under detention. What matters is that any wrongdoing or injustice (or if there is a hint of it) be highlighted.
N. Dhamendran could be Ahmad Ismail, Chew Seng Chee, Nilam Surin, Jagdeep Sing, Smith Anderson or even Hernando Rodriguez.
I would still make noise on social media, in my columns or my documentaries if there was a blatant injustice to his death. That would be my responsibility.
So don’t make it about race. Because if you do, you are just trivialising the death of a human being who deserves the respect and rights equal to anyone.
Zan Azlee
Wed Jun 05 2013
Penguasaan asas teknologi AI sangat penting untuk pelajar
Penguasaan terhadap asas AI adalah perlu dan penting seiring dengan penguasaan 3M (menulis, mengira dan membaca).
Pasaran saham ST1 positif, dijangka berterusan sehingga H2
Pasaran FBM KLCI mencatat prestasi baik dengan pulangan sekitar 5.7%. Imran Yassin Md Yusof, Ketua MIDF Research, menjangkakan sentimen positif akan berterusan sehingga separuh kedua tahun ini. Sektor cemerlang termasuk utiliti, hartanah, dan pembinaan.
Peningkatan IHPR beri petanda positif kepada perdagangan
Menurut Pengarah Program MBA, Putra Business School (PBS), Prof Madya Dr. Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff, prestasi Indeks Harga Pengeluar (IHPR) Pengeluaran Tempatan Malaysia yang meningkat pada Februari 2024 menyifatkan pertumbuhan perdagangan berada di tahap yang baik.
Jangan ambil tindakan sendiri, Malaysia ada undang-undang - KPN
Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain memberi amaran dan peringatan keras kepada orang ramai untuk tidak mengambil tindakan sendiri.
SolaRIS memberdaya permintaan solar, tingkat peluang kerja - Pakar
Permohonan boleh dibuat bermula 1 April sehingga 31 Disember 2024 dan permohonan NEM Rakyat yang telah diperolehi perlu beroperasi selewat-lewatnya 31 Mac 2025, atau sehingga kesemua kuota rebat SolaRIS habis diagihkan, yang mana terdahulu.
Masyarakat dinasihati pantau penggunaan tenaga elektrik
Ketua Pegawai Retail, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Kamal Ariffin A.Rahman berkata cuaca panas melampau mampu memberi kesan kepada kadar permintaan dan penggunaan peralatan elektrik isi rumah.
Perginya Tokoh Wartawan Negara 2014 Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee
Jenazah Tokoh Wartawan Negara 2014 allahyarham Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee Mahmud Isa Arbee selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Seksyen 7 Shah Alam pada Jumaat.
'No free lunch', tiada penambahan hari tol percuma - Ahmad Maslan
Kerajaan tidak berhasrat untuk menambah bilangan hari bagi pemberian tol percuma sempena Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Masters Sepanyol: Jun Hao, Wan Arif-Roy King teruskan cabaran
Leong Jun Hao mengesahkan slot suku akhir Sepanyol Masters Super 300 selepas menewaskan pilihan keenam dari Taiwan, Lin Chun Yi.
Ringgit dibuka rendah susulan jangkaan AS tangguh turun kadar faedah
Ringgit memulakan urus niaga Jumaat dengan lebih rendah berbanding dolar AS.
Do postponements cause delays in the Courts?
Cases may often be postponed or otherwise delayed for various reasons. The truth of the matter is that these delays may be necessary due to the Rule of law and due process.
Kerajaan komited 'sifar kematian berkaitan AIDS', kata Dr Subra
Kerajaan komited dalam usaha ke arah sifar kematian berkaitan AIDS, kata Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.
Lady Thatcher dan Tun Mahathir: Pemimpin Gemilang-Nikesh Mehta
Pada Rabu lepas, saya berpeluang untuk bertemu dengan mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia keempat, iaitu Y.Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sewaktu lawatan beliau ke kediaman Pesuruh Jaya Tinggi British.