For many decades, conservative politicians focused on racial dominance, religious hatred, animosity and intolerance towards non-Muslims. Constantly dwelling on the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) had serious consequences.

The extremism has led to a rise in domestic terrorism and simultaneously, we are experiencing an infiltration of foreign agents. Why?

In the past nine months, we have witnessed bomb threats, the rise of violent vigilante groups, and firebombs. Properties have been damaged and although lives were at risk, fortunately no-one was seriously injured or killed.

The police launched investigations. Although speedy progress was made in capturing the Israeli, who entered Malaysia, allegedly to assassinate a rival, what progress has been made regarding the domestic terrorists?

Malaysia appears to be a breeding ground where foreigners come to commit crimes and then make a quick exit when their mission is complete.  In 2017, Kim Jong-Nam, the older half-brother of the North Korean dictator, was assassinated. In 2018, the Gaza-born electrical engineer, Fadi Mohammed al-Batsch, a member of Hamas, was killed in Kuala Lumpur.

Is Malaysia an easy  target because both security and law enforcement are lax?

Like it or not, we have two tiers of justice in Malaysia, one for the elite, and another for ordinary citizens, but the country also suffers double standards for police investigations.

In some crimes, the culprit is caught within no time at all, whilst in others, the criminals remain at large despite CCTV cameras, witness accounts and forensic evidence.

On 21 July 2023, lawyer, activist and champion of the Orang Asli community, Siti Kassim, was the intended target of an improvised explosive device (IED) or a bomb. The police launched an immediate investigation.

What was the outcome of these probes?

At the time, the prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, failed to make a public announcement to denounce the bomb threat. He acted irresponsibly. A true leader would have said something, however brief, to allay the fears of the public and reassure them.

Anwar knows that Siti is not just a little known individual, but is a respectable and well known critic of injustice, corruption, religious intolerance and the government.

Anwar’s silence was puzzling. Members of the rakyat feared ‘copycat’ bomb threats especially from people who didn’t agree with what they may consider liberal views, just like Siti’s.

Six months after Siti’s life was threatened, on 10 January, the house belonging to the Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, in  Ayer Tawar, was torched by a petrol bomb. The resulting fire damaged three cars and his house-porch. Luckily, Ngeh and his wife were unhurt.

Ngeh had courted controversy when he suggested the inclusion of non-Muslim experts in the special committee to review the jurisdiction of the Syariah court.

A forensic team and K9 sniffer dogs were deployed to the scene, but what has happened to these police investigations?

Has any progress been made? Have investigations stalled?

To commit an arson attack against another person, just because of his differing views is unacceptable.

Just like the bomb threat against Siti, lives were at risk and innocent people could have been hurt or killed.

Did Anwar criticise the petrol bomb attack on Ngeh? Isn’t he part of Anwar’s coalition?

Three months later, on 13 March, KK Mart and its owner, KK Chia, became an unrelenting target of the Umno-Baru Youth leader, Akmal Saleh over the sale of some controversial socks.

Despite Chia’s apology, Akmal was unmoved.

Sadly, Akmal’s hubris has  fanned the flames of violence and stirred religious fanatics within Malaysia to damage community relations and commit arson attacks.

For reasons known only to himself, Akmal refused to acknowledge that his arrogance has fueled hatred amongst the population. He has worsened our security and threatened our economic stability.

In three weeks, three shops were firebombed. In Bidor, Perak, then Kuantan, Pahang and shockingly, the third arson attack occurred in the religiously tolerant nation of Sarawak.

The violence has spread to East Malaysia. Akmal’s message was crystal clear.

He aimed to spread fear.

As before, the police launched their investigations, scrutinised CCTV recordings, took witness statements and conducted forensic examinations.

To date, no-one has been hauled in for questioning, nor have we been informed of the progress of these investigations.

People fear for their safety. They are afraid of being injured whilst shopping in a KK Mart shop which may be petrol bombed.

The business community is treading on eggshells, fearful that they could be the next target of religious vigilante groups.

Workers in retail and the associated industries, like those working in socks factories, fear their future job prospects.

The national psyche is affected because others ridicule us for allowing the security and reputation of the nation to be damaged over five pairs of socks

No-one believes Akmal’s line that Chia knowingly touched on sensitive topics. No-one believes Akmal when he said that Chia had deliberately insulted Islam. Why would Chia jeopardise his successful billion ringgit enterprise over five pairs of socks?

Akmal and other attention seeking and intolerant politicians should seriously heed the advice of the Agong, the Sultans of Perak and Pahang. Sadly, the ulamas are oddly quiet over the arson attacks.

Concerned citizens earlier warned our leaders to nip the socks issue in the bud, and rein in the Youth leader.

They failed to act, and allowed Akmal to let the genie out of the bottle.

(Mariam Mokhtar is a Freelance Writer.)