KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Malaysian youths should reject all provocations to spark racial disputes and should not resort to thuggish behaviour to settle disputes, DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud said today.
The DAP leader condemned the violence on the weekend at Low Yat Plaza and described it is an example of the prevalence and spread of the “gangster culture” among youths.
“I call on the youths to not also be trapped in racial issues and repeat the dark history. We have to refocus on major issues that truly threaten Malaysians as reported recently and not fight among ourselves,” the young DAP politician said in a statement today.
Blaming irresponsible parties for triggering an emotion-fuelled situation by spreading rumours and fanning racial flames in the Low Yat Plaza incident, she warned that both the thuggish culture and the inflammatory issue of race would be a dangerous mix in Malaysia.
“This is something that is very dangerous because in the society’s recent situation that are easily touched by racial and religious issues, any issue is capable of fanning racial fires.
“Added together with the gangster culture, it will only lead to uncontrolled harm. Violence and physical provocation and social media will not solve problems, it would even lead to more problems,” she said, saying that the Low Yat Plaza incident should serve as a lesson.
She noted that a dispute over only one handphone had led to a crowd of youths showing up at Low Yat Plaza and employing violence over an unverified claim, and observed that thuggish behaviour was showing up everywhere whether on the “roads, rallies, politics, football fields and the social media”.
She urged youths to control their emotions, saying that disputes should be solved rationally and through civil discussions without resorting to violence and property damage.
According to Dyana, 70 per cent of Malaysia’s population are youths aged below 40, with this group representing those best placed to lead the country in promoting peace, acceptance and openness.
Dyana urged local youths to contribute towards nation-building efforts and to strengthen patriotism.
Last night, fights broke out at the city centre’s Low Yat Plaza and reportedly left five people injured.
A mob had gathered at the popular tech mall after a Malay man was caught by security guards at the complex for allegedly stealing a mobile phone from a Chinese trader and handed to the police Saturday.
The youth later reportedly contacted his friends who reacted by heading to the store where the attempted theft allegedly happened, where they then assaulted the shop workers and vandalised the store with losses estimated at RM70,000, according to national news wire Bernama.
To date, 18 people have been arrested for participating in the melee yesterday.
City police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa told Malay Mail Online earlier today that the case is being probed as theft but the police are considering a new file on sedition after several groups involved in the melee flashed the race card.
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