(Miri, 13th) Recently, a post by the Facebook account "MIKE RAIN" allegedly insulted Sarawak's Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari and his family, sparking widespread attention. In response, the political secretary of the Sarawak Premier's Office filed police reports simultaneously in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri, demonstrating the government's zero-tolerance stance on malicious defamation. SUPP's Central Publicity and Information Secretary, Richard Yii Siaw Shen, firmly supports the reporting action and urges society to seriously consider the potential dangers of online speech.
He stated that with the development of network technology and the proliferation of social media, the public enjoys an unprecedented platform to voice opinions, which should be a positive force in a democratic society. However, this freedom is often abused by those with ulterior motives. In this incident, the post contained not only insulting language but also personal attacks on the Premier's family, clearly crossing the line of freedom of speech and constituting malicious defamation, even with inciting nature.
The negative social impact of such behavior cannot be underestimated. Disseminating unverified or even fabricated information online can easily mislead the public and erode the trust foundation in the government and leaders. Over time, it may lead society into a vicious cycle of mutual distrust, which is not conducive to maintaining Sarawak's diverse and harmonious society.
When individuals are able to post hate speech online without consequences, it encourages more to follow suit, creating a toxic competition of "who can insult more harshly" in online culture. Once hate speech spreads, it not only intensifies ethnic and political divides but also has the potential to incite real-world conflict, endangering public order.
Moreover, teenagers and young netizens are the main users of social media. If they are continuously exposed to unverified, emotional, or even false statements, it can distort their perception of society, leading them to believe that "harsh words equate to courage, and spreading rumors is freedom," which in the long run, affects the foundational quality of future national citizens.
Based on these considerations, Richard Yii Siaw Shen emphasized that cyberspace is not above the law, and every post must bear legal and moral responsibility. When expressing opinions, the public should return to rationality and facts, and should not allow emotions to override the truth, nor become tools for creating online violence.
Richard Yii Siaw Shen has always believed that freedom of speech is an important cornerstone of democracy, but this freedom must be built on responsibility and respect. He sternly calls on all netizens not to become accomplices in undermining social stability and harmony due to momentary emotions. All Sarawakians should work together to create a high-quality, trustworthy social media environment.
He stated that with the development of network technology and the proliferation of social media, the public enjoys an unprecedented platform to voice opinions, which should be a positive force in a democratic society. However, this freedom is often abused by those with ulterior motives. In this incident, the post contained not only insulting language but also personal attacks on the Premier's family, clearly crossing the line of freedom of speech and constituting malicious defamation, even with inciting nature.
The negative social impact of such behavior cannot be underestimated. Disseminating unverified or even fabricated information online can easily mislead the public and erode the trust foundation in the government and leaders. Over time, it may lead society into a vicious cycle of mutual distrust, which is not conducive to maintaining Sarawak's diverse and harmonious society.
When individuals are able to post hate speech online without consequences, it encourages more to follow suit, creating a toxic competition of "who can insult more harshly" in online culture. Once hate speech spreads, it not only intensifies ethnic and political divides but also has the potential to incite real-world conflict, endangering public order.
Moreover, teenagers and young netizens are the main users of social media. If they are continuously exposed to unverified, emotional, or even false statements, it can distort their perception of society, leading them to believe that "harsh words equate to courage, and spreading rumors is freedom," which in the long run, affects the foundational quality of future national citizens.
Based on these considerations, Richard Yii Siaw Shen emphasized that cyberspace is not above the law, and every post must bear legal and moral responsibility. When expressing opinions, the public should return to rationality and facts, and should not allow emotions to override the truth, nor become tools for creating online violence.
Richard Yii Siaw Shen has always believed that freedom of speech is an important cornerstone of democracy, but this freedom must be built on responsibility and respect. He sternly calls on all netizens not to become accomplices in undermining social stability and harmony due to momentary emotions. All Sarawakians should work together to create a high-quality, trustworthy social media environment.