The Harmony Cluster of the CSO Platform for Reform condemns the religiously motivated physical violence that took place in the form of a brawl in Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya on 11 June 2021.
Based on the Petaling Jaya Chief of Police press release on 11 June 2021, we believe that this issue can be avoided if the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 is respected without revealing the customer’s information. Additionally, the food deliveryman should be professional in carrying out his duty of delivering food only.
We also believe that this incident occurred due to a group of people who are easily offended and overly sensitive to the actions and behaviours of minorities from other ethnic groups/beliefs. However, this should not be a licence that allows physical harm against others. We believe that there are other more harmonious and prosperous channels that can be used to convey such views and feelings of dissatisfaction.
The Harmony Cluster of the CSO Platform for Reform appreciates the swift action of the Petaling Jaya District Police to investigate the incident and to provide advice to the community to not instigate or make racial and religious provocations that could threaten public order. We also agree with his statement that the public should allow the police to investigate the matter and should refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
At the same time, we condemn the actions of certain individuals, non-governmental organisations and certain members/political parties who leveraged on this incident to advance their respective agendas which are based on these baseless racist fears. Furthermore, FoodPanda’s lack of response in providing their views on this matter and their subsequent actions in line with the principles of Business and Human Rights to ensure such incidents do not happen again in the future is extremely disappointing.
In this volatile climate of ethnic relations, the Harmony Cluster of the CSO Platform for Reform calls upon all parties to adopt a calm, rationale and objective attitude to evaluate any information received and not resort to reckless actions that will erode national unity, social cohesion and peace
Media statement by the Harmony Cluster of the CSO Platform for Reform on 16 June 2021.
Note: Harmony Cluster is part of the CSO Platform for Reform, a coalition of 80 civil society organizations (CSOs), based in Malaysia, focusing on institutional reforms.