Freedom of speech is noble, but it must be tempered with sensitivity and tact; and with the recent allegations of two educators calling the non-Malays 'pendatang' (unwelcome migrants), it has become more important than ever to hold one's tongue for the greater good. The youth give their take on it.

In recent times, reports have come to light of two educators - one a headmistress, one a teacher - who have allegedly expressed racial slurs against the non-Malays.

The headmistress had apparently likened the prayer beads of the Indians to dog collars and called the Chinese pendatang (unwelcome migrants) during a school assembly speech; and a bunch of Chinese students eating in a common area during fasting period (the canteen was closed) caused the teacher to yell at them to respect the fasting month or go back to China if they didn't want to respect that.

The fact that such sentiments still exist among Malaysians is shocking, made so much more so that this has happened less than two weeks away from when we celebrated our 53rd year of Merdeka.

"I find that it (the incidents) is almost laughable. It is so ridiculous that it is hard to believe that this is even happening in my country. To be called a pendatang is insulting, and frankly quite preposterous. I was born here, my parents were born here," said Joanne Tan, 25, a marketing executive. "I cannot go back to China even if I wanted to! So yes, I think this is almost comic relief that such stupidity even exists."

Tan explained that some people think they can say anything they want under the colourful, righteous flag of 'freedom of speech', but it doesn't work that way. "The question I want to pose is: Where is your moral compass? Where is your decency?"

"Freedom of speech is only truly noble when it is accompanied by sensitivity towards racial or religious taboos. The right to express is not the right to incite hate, and if there is anything to hate, it should only be hate towards racism."

Sean, 24, a writer, agrees.

"There are several extremist groups trying to incite racial tension when everything is actually progressing well," he said. "I do not know what their motives are, but I say keep your racism to yourself. Do not use words which you know are derogatory and insulting to other races."

He does realise though, that there will always be cultural differences among each other - our friends and classmates even. Some things that one race does may agitate another. A religious practice may clash with another.

"But it is about moving beyond that. We have lived for so many years together, and acceptance and tolerance have seen us through all these years. Why do they claim 'freedom of speech' when it is actually boorish, inconsiderate behaviour?"

Azrina Azhar, 24, is of the same mind. "It is terrible that these words are coming from the lips of those who are supposed to be educating our young Malaysians. Unfortunately, this is a sentiment that is shared by some. They are a very small minority, but it is horrifying that this minority includes educators and teachers."

And in a multi-cultural and multi-religious country like ours, words that mock, insult or degrade race and religion are not only forbidden, they are downright dangerous. One careless and inconsiderate slip-of-tongue could let loose a violent clash, a terrifying racial war, and send tempers a-flying. But the crux of the matter lies within us. 

Vanessa Fernandez, 24, has heard of such 'slip-of-tongue (s)'.

"I know the names that we call other races. I won't say them, but we all know what they are. But we must keep in mind that some words are prohibited, and freedom of speech is not an excuse to let loose lips sink ships. Stereotypes are no excuse to assume the worst of a fellow Malaysian of a different race."

 She cited an article written on a satire website called MySeedStories.com, where the author (who is of Indian descent) of the website stated: "I want to see a future for me where I am not discriminated based on the petty differences of man, such as the presence of facial hair or the colour of my skin."

"This is what every Malaysian wants, and should have," said Vanessa. "It is sad that even after over five decades of being Malaysians we still judge one another based on race and assume the worst of each other, or call each other names. We should also do our part to end this. We cannot allow these sentiments to fire our emotions, because it is not a view that is shared by many - Malays and non-Malays alike."