MALAYSIA MALL RIOT HOLDS LESSONS TO SINGAPORE
The riot in Malaysia’s Low Yat Plaza at City of Kuala Lumpur last weekend would not
have escalated with the pace and ferocity it did, were it not for the speed
with which rumours spread through social media.
Footage of the fight, taken shakily with a myriad of
smartphones belonging to spectators, spread like wildfire, 
reaching millions of
viewers in a matter of days.
reaching millions of
viewers in a matter of days.
The events unfolding in Malaysia hold lessons for Singapore.
The Republic boasts the highest smartphone penetration rate globally, and its
citizens are among the most active on social media.
Every day, netizens latch on to new photographs and videos,
which go viral.
Every now and then, the content focuses on the inter-racial
relationships in a multicultural society.
Every now and then, the content focuses on the inter-racial
relationships in a multicultural society.
This may be an opportune time to note that while Singapore
lives in relative harmony now, this was not always the case.
The Maria Hertogh riots in 1950 and the 1964 race riots left dozens dead and hundreds more injured.
The Maria Hertogh riots in 1950 and the 1964 race riots left dozens dead and hundreds more injured.
- In an era of instant information, where the lines between fact and fiction can sometimes be blurred, Singapore would do well not to take the peace its races enjoy for granted.
Source: Agency
18 ARRESTED IN MALAYSIAN LOW YAT BROWL AFTERMATH
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A total of 18 people have been arrested over
two days in connection with the theft and subsequent riots near Low Yat Plaza.
City police chief Comm Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said
those arrested were aged between 16 and 40, including the man who was suspected
of stealing a mobile phone at the shopping complex on Saturday.
He also refuted claims that the main suspect in the theft
case was actually a victim of fraud, whereby he was sold a clone phone.
There are too many rumours and false news in social media.
This is one of the reason violence escalated last night and early this morning,
Tajuddin said.
Comm Tajuddin confirmed that the main investigation was
focused on theft of a mobile phone and it was not racially motivated.
He also assured the public that police presence would be
beefed up to maintain order near the Low Yat area.
We have things under controlled. People are safe to go to
the area,he said.
Comm Tajuddin said police would be monitoring social media
and did not rule out action against those who spread false news and incite
hatred among the people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said The
Sedition Act will be used against those who destroy racial harmony in the Low
Yat Plaza incident.
He said he was disappointed at what took place at Low Yat
Plaza and the comments on social media following Sunday's incident.
"The people should not create racial hatred via the
internet or messaging apps on their phones.
"I have ordered the Home Ministry and Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission to monitor them thoroughly and at the
same time I will use the relevant Acts, especially the Sedition Act, against
those who destroy racial harmony," said Najib in a Mandarin statement on
his Facebook page.
On Sunday, five people, including two journalists, were
injured in a mob attack at the plaza in Bukit Bintang which was sparked by what
police said was due to a shoplifting incident earlier in the evening.
Source: The Star
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