Curb social ills, not social media

Following the Low Yat kerfuffle, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak mooted the idea of curbing social media.

Apparently, the first incident was made into a racial issue over social media, causing the second, more organised brawl to ensue.

Among many lackadaisical decisions made by our authorities, I think this takes the cake.

Social media is just what it is, a tool. Regulating its use or imposing stricter internet controls; even to the point of shutting down Facebook- will solve nothing.

The issue(s) that need to be addressed are far deeper than just how Malaysians choose to use social media.

According to Malaysia Social Media Statistics, Facebook is still the social media network of choice for Malaysians, with 10.4 million Facebook users (34.2% of the population).

From this number, 3.5 million users (11.5% of the population) are youths aged between 18 and 24.

Compare that with Twitter, where our inspector-general of police is active, with only 0.76 million (2.5% of the population) active users, and Instagram, with 5.5 million users (18.1% of the population).

Across the platforms, politicians are most active on Twitter and local brands and celebrities top the list of page “likes” and followers.

I beg everyone to look at the numbers. Relatively, as reported by local online media, only 120 Malaysians have joined the Isis militant group so far.

That is roughly 0.00039% of the Malaysian population. While I do not discount the need to curb Isis extremist ideologies, surely curbing social media use is a knee-jerk reaction to this issue?

Bringing it closer to more recent developments, there were about 100 people involved in the Low Yat kerfuffle.

Yes. Violence happened. The incitement of racial sentiments was spread through social media. But, out of 30.387 million Malaysians; and 10.4 million Facebook users – only 100 people were involved with the Low Yat brawl.

It could have been worse, the madness could have spread and viralised.

Yet, most of us still believe in the humanity and rationality – the result of either our own upbringings or our faiths – to have a peaceful Malaysia.

Following the Low Yat kerfuffle, social media imploded with calls for “unity”, “moderation”, and rejection of racial sentiments.

Being the naïve optimist that I am, I believe that Malaysians in general do not want what happened at Low Yat.

We no longer believe that only the people from one ethnic majority determine the future of the country.

We now believe that we are reclaiming the term Malaysian. That this country can only move forward if we finally reject the sentiments sprouted by extremists.

However, what led 100 people to riot?

One youth and one mobile phone. Following that, the common reaction of blaming others for our own failures, insecurities and shortcomings.

That common people like you and I cannot fathom the value of RM42 billion, but we can understand the value of a smartphone.

Drug use was cited as the “motivation” behind the riot, putting stigma on drug users in general. However, I think the social ill is deeper than that.

While some people are known to use drugs to alleviate their mental health issues or to just get through challenging jobs such as being deep-sea fishermen or sex work, the reason that some people start to use drugs is complex.

However, this can be generalised as lacking of good social support.

Often, drug use is a result of peer pressure, lack of good role models in life in general, learning of behaviour either from partner or parent, history of abuse and sometimes rape, lack of education and opportunities, and economic instability.

That there are an increasing number of urban poor due to rising cost of living and lack of implementation of minimum wage only compacted drug use.

I was informed that some street children would start to sniff glue in order to forget their hunger. From there, they cultivate a habit for getting high.

Connecting the dots, one can find a feedback cycle of social instability. One child born into poverty lack all the privileges that comes with a good stable household.

This child grows into a youth who risk drug use as a method to “escape” from the challenges of life.

Having this expensive habit more often than not lead such youths to criminal acts. Caught, this youth is placed at Pusat Serenti, and would have a criminal record.

Upon release, he or she would face stigma by society due to having a criminal record.

Job opportunities are scarce due to stigma and lack of education/paper qualifications, and often they are unable to kick the habit and resort to drug use again.

Thus, begin a revolving door of no escape.

In the unique case of the Low Yat kerfuffle, this particular youth was used as a bait to incite racial hatred. That his lawyer then applauded him as a champion of the Malays was moronic.

Instead of curbing social media or even romanticising a past of a supposedly more “unified” Malaysia, I would like to call all Malaysians to put our thinking caps on and act on implementing good ideas to curb social ills instead.

How do we reduce poverty, especially in urban areas?

How best can we manage drug users and assist them to kick the habit and reintegrate into society as functional citizens?

How can we choose to use social media for good, instead of spreading hatred?

How can we ensure that every Malaysian have the same access to education?

How can we work towards a better Malaysia – on all fronts?

Every individual have our own roles to play, but collectively we can make an impact.

Instead of demonstrating or causing damages to properties; why don’t we fight back against such extreme hateful ideologies through volunteerism, kindness and compassion? – July 22, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.