Kuala Lumpur: An expert researcher from the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) says a comprehensive framework is needed to address hate speech to foster an inclusive society and stop the menace from disrupting the fabric of unity among Malaysia's multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural populace.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Murni Wan Mohd Nor advocates for this in her 91-page book entitled 'From Hate to Hope: A Holistic Approach to Address Hate Speech', which will be launched on January 17. She stressed the existing ambiguity regarding hate speech, which poses a problem not just for the public but also for enforcement officers, including the police, in determining what constitutes hate and what does not.

Dr Murni, who is also a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia, mentioned during Bernama TV's 'The Nation' programme that the book would be available to the public in PDF format on the IDFR website after its launch. The IDFR, an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host the launch.

In response to a question from the programme's host Gerard Ratnam, Murni highlighted the challenges faced by the Royal Malaysia Police in enforcement due to the absence of a comprehensive framework. The police shared that they sometimes cannot take action unless certain actions clearly violate existing laws like the Communications and Multimedia Act or the Penal Code.

Murni clarified that the aim of having a specific law on hate speech is not to restrict freedom of expression. Instead, the goal is to establish a legislative framework to address the issue effectively. She questioned whether academic freedom and media responsibility are impacted in the absence of such a framework.

She praised the government for its efforts to protect against hate speech through the Online Safety Bill and amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act. However, she emphasized that the government alone cannot tackle the issue, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach involving various stakeholders.

The book's values align with the theme for Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship, "Inclusivity and Sustainability," and stress the necessity of addressing hate speech to ensure sustainable progress. Murni warned that continued hate speech could undermine any advancements achieved by the nation and the region.