PM calls on activists to help stop bullying

PUTRAJAYA: After the recent series of bully cases, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has called on arts activists to play their role actively in cultivating the values of humanity among Malaysians.
Stating this, Najib said such messages of humanity could be included in the creative works published by those in the art scene.
He admitted that there was indeed a void when it comes to matters pertaining to the strengthening of national identity, stating that this had weakened the process of nation building.
"We have seen the presence of social problems in our society. The past few days the problem of gangsterism and bullying had become the attention of the public," he said.
"I hope all of you (arts activists) can play your role to cultivate the values of humanity among our society.
"I hope the role of arts activists in the creative field can assist us so that the basis of our society and civilisation can be filled with noble values," he said in his speech at the breaking of fast event with writers, artists, cultural activists and broadcasters at Seri Perdana here today.
Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia student navy cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain and T. Nhaveen became the recent victims in the recent cases of bullying which had gained wide attention and sparked public debates.
Both of them succumbed to their injuries after being brutally assaulted by a group of individuals.
Najib noted that developing a high-value civilisation was not all about building modern infrastructure such as highways, high speed train and skyscrapers.
He also hoped that the cooperation between the government and arts activists could pave the way to producing a better society as inspired in the vision of National Transformation 2050.
Najib, in showing appreciation to the group, stated that he was ready to ask the 1Malaysia People's Housing Scheme (PR1MA) to allocate affordable housing to arts activists.
He added 25 individuals among the group would also be selected to receive an "umrah" package, where priority would be given to those who could not afford it.