An Idiot, would just run around like a mad dog shouting this and that is wrong without even considering that he or she may have reacted unnecessarily to lies or propaganda that was designed to create such idiots in the first place. We call this lot the Zombies. Lately, I do see the sincerity a lot. But no point when it is overwhelmed by the Idiots. Such idiots, or zombies, are traitors to the country. They have become the agent of 'Fitnah' (lies).
NEGATIVE comments given by fellow Malaysians about their own country have been mistakenly taken as a heroic act. I think people are confused. I think people do not understand the difference between raising concerns about issues arising versus spreading bad vibes about the country. The former is a genuine and sincere approach with the hope of correcting what is wrong, if any wrong doings are confirmed. The latter is simply shouting like idiots to everybody around the world on wrong doings that have not been confirmed and concluded. How do you tell the difference? Well, a sincere person would raise the issues he believes need attention and goes through the proper, legal and civilised channel. An Idiot, would just run around like a mad dog shouting this and that is wrong without even considering that he or she may have reacted unnecessarily to lies or propaganda that was designed to create such idiots in the first place. We call this lot the Zombies. Lately, I do see the sincerity a lot. But no point when it is overwhelmed by the Idiots. Such idiots, or zombies, are traitors to the country. They have become the agent of 'Fitnah' (lies).
The best platform to observe this confusion is in the social media. Yesterday I saw a status on a friend's Facebook account. He wrote something light and subtle with the hope that people understand that the last thing our country needs is the so called Zombies and Idiots, i.e. Traitors. To my surprise, that status attracted many comments, both for and against. It amuses me to see how many people fail to understand his (my friend) simple point and starts to give judgemental comments as if they know what is the truth and everyone else should accept what they have concluded as the truth even in the absence of evidence from their side. What a total nut case. An Epitome Idiot. It is to my pleasure to share those comments (both sides) here in this blog so that people can learn and start pondering. Here they are:
DUDE A FB STATUS:
A customer at restaurant asked the owner, "How is business?" The owner said, "No good lah" The customer then decided to stop eating at the restaurant because the owner said 'No Good'. So, stop giving negative vibes about Malaysia, or else investors will 'Cabut' (run away).
DUDE B COMMENTED:
What if business not good because the food is bad? Changing the cook would be the best option, no? There is a reason why business is bad. People talk and they can think. Then they can decide.
DUDE A COMMENTED:
We should sort out internal issues ourselves. We must not go around telling people what our issues are. The owner of the restaurant should just shut up and go deal with the cook. He need not tell people that his business is bad. People will look for reasons not to go there anymore. So we must not go around the world saying bad things about Malaysia. Investors will run away. It appears that you do not understand the spirit of my status. Basically, 'Orang nak masuk meminang and then we bad mouth our own daughter... bodoh lah tu' (Telling bad things about your daughter when someone is asking for her hand for marriage).
DUDE B COMMENTED:
Negative vibes alone don't move the markets. The market moves not because of negative vibes but because of the root cause, What gave rise to the vibes in the first place is what needs to be looked at. 'Tiada asap tanpa api' (No smoke if no fire). And those who are concerned would be those who has invested money in the country. Citizens have an obligation to the country not just the sitting Government. True leaders hold themselves accountable. True patriots hold their leaders to account. Doesn't mean you need to shout it to the world. But it also doesn't mean wilfully ignoring it.
DUDE A COMMENTED:
Yes I agree to some of your points but which part of 'We should sort out internal issues ourselves. We must not go around telling people what our issues are.' do you not understand? I am not talking about root cause. I am talking about those who conclude without evidence and starts shouting around. You are trying to argue with me on a different off tangent point here. Be focus. I am talking about the Zombies. Those who feeds on propaganda. Those who feeds on 'fitnahs' (lies). Market actually move on vibes. The vibes that rippled across the globe anticipating the US Fed to raise interest rates caused currencies to move. When the Fed actually moved their interest rates, the market had already priced it in. Yes patriots have the obligation you mentioned but nowadays perception is the name of the game. Does the citizen know or even have the capacity to understand the truth? Where is the truth when we have online purveyors of lies and slander? Lies and slander that catalysed so much hate that the citizen have chosen to be blinded from the truth?
DUDE B COMMENTED:
No one has the monopoly on the truth. Especially not the Government. That is why a free press is so important. In a civil society, you need to allow all voices to be heard especially the critics. It cannot be true that all criticism is unfounded. Equally it is probable that not all allegations are true. The way you get to the bottom of this is to allow debate and treat your citizens like adults, i.e. let them decide. You don't silence the voices you don't agree with. That is recipe for disaster. There is no growth or change without criticism but criticism does not need to be rude or vicious.
DUDE A COMMENTED:
Theory wise you are correct. Practicality wise, you are naïve. I have given up on freedom of press long time ago because of their propaganda approach. What more with the potential conspiracy that can happen with those who control media and use it to their advantage by spreading lies. It is like the economic hitman working their way legally while destroying the country. The power of 'fitnah' (lies) is so powerful that I would rather lose freedom of press than being destroyed by the lies spread by the press. Therefore, the invisible hand of market mechanism no longer work. Too much noise in the system. You talk about Government forcing the freedom of speech to be dampened. What about the DAP Chinese pressuring the MCA Chinese? They (MCA Chinese) have been threatened with all sorts of intimidation tactics and insults by their relatives, friends and netizens. They are intimidated into silence. Is that not a form of forced censorship? Truth is the truth. Others are perceptions or lies. For example, I built a school with my hard-earned net of tax money and people spread news about the money used was stolen. Who but I have the monopoly on the truth, Right?
DUDE B COMMENTED:
You are confusing truth with control. Truth is not something one person or group controls. It is universal. I am not party to all the different conversations but what is being discussed within the country is clearly not the truth, not when other independent parties disagree. You cannot hide the truth by denying it. You cannot turn the lie into a truth by calling it names. You can stop the press, the people, or create firewalls and censor what you like, but you cannot change the truth.
DUDE A COMMENTED:
In the end, I do not think the general public knows the truth. That is why we rely on the authorities. You yourself do not know the truth but you are giving statements as if you know the truth and starts accusing that truths have been hidden. I think when it is clear that there are parties who are determined to lie, the Government should, in their utmost care, shut those people down. This is the problem of a pure democratic methods. There must be some element of control. And I am not referring to Communists approach. I am saying that freedom comes with responsibility. If that responsibility is not maintained, then there should not be any freedom. What is the use of freedom when it is used to destroy everything? So if there is a website that continuously and persistently tell lies that can destabilise the country's financial and capital markets, impact the foreign direct investments sentiments, we should allow such a website to continue doing damage, do we? We cannot embrace freedom of speech to the extent that it rapes the very fabric of truth instead of advocating it. We must embrace it cautiously.
