KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Accepting allegations without proper scrutiny could fuel ‘asabiyyah’, a tendency to defend one’s own group even when it is at fault while viewing the good deeds of others negatively, said Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said the public should not accept information blindly, but instead verify the facts and gain a clearer understanding before taking a stand.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the same approach should be adopted when assessing current political issues in the country.
"Claims have surfaced again that DAP is a communist party and that anyone who cooperates with it is therefore supporting communism. But is DAP really communist,” he told reporters after the launch of his book, Mustadhafin vs Mustakbirin, co-authored with Ennie Zuhasniza Jamaludin, here today.
The book was launched by National Journalism Laureate Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, who is also a director of Star Media Group Berhad.
Mohamad said facts and knowledge were often harder to accept and took longer to digest, unlike accusations and suspicions that could spread easily, especially through social media.
Commenting on the book, he said it documents his experiences and meetings with various parties as he sought to understand issues based on the actual situation, rather than relying solely on information being circulated.
"From a young age, I would not immediately accept information I received. I preferred to find out for myself what was happening rather than simply listening to propaganda being circulated,” he said.
Mohamad said the book also offers his perspective on global geopolitical dynamics, drawing on his experiences, observations and thoughts, while touching on colonialism, the Islamic movement, the Palestinian conflict and shifts in global power. — Bernama
