Live telecast of UNMO General Assembly

Openness would act as restraint

I refer to the report “Rethink on live telecast” (Star Nov 21).

The recently concluded 57th UMNO General assembly may have caused a lot of controversies, but the one most important point in its favour was the decision to telecast its proceedings live.It is a step in the right direction in line with our Prime Minister’s call for a more open and accountable administration.

It is encouraging that UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has admitted that some speeches during the just concluded assembly were extreme. Even the PM has acknowledged that we have reached a dangerous point in the history of the nation as far as racial unity is concerned.

If the proceedings were not telecast live, it would not have received so much adverse reactions from the public and our leaders will never realize that race relations in the country is not that rosy as had been painted all these while.

Some of the delegates especially from the youth wing were oblivious to the likely ill effects that their statements could have on other communities. They were least bothered that what they utter at the meeting could deeply hurt the feelings of fellow Malaysians of other ethnicity. This the result of a system that encourages living cocooned within their own community with little or no interaction with others.

Children from all races must be taught to understand and respect the sensitivities of other races. Free mingling of people of all races from young, freedom of expression and open dialogue in a civil manner will help instill tolerance towards others.

In a similar way, openness in the form of live telecast, could in fact restrain the delegates from uttering words and phrases that would be offensive to other races.

We hope the leaders will not only continue with live telecasts of future UNMO assemblies but also encourage other political parties and even parliament and state assemblies to do likewise. Our ethnic diversity is here to stay and in the long run only openness will act as a restraint on our words and deeds.

Dr.Chris Anthony