When a provocateur desecrates a symbol or makes an extremist post, their primary goal is attention. They want to create a reaction, to force a cycle of retaliation that proves their hateful point that we cannot live together.
THERE is a quiet wisdom in the ancient practice of choosing one’s battles, a philosophy I was recently reintroduced to while reading an insightful book on the power of not reacting.
In a world that thrives on outrage, where procedures amplify anger and every slight is met with a digital sledgehammer, the concept of deliberate non-reaction feels almost radical. It is not about passivity or indifference but about the profound strength found in pausing, in denying provocateurs the very attention they desire.
I found this lesson extraordinarily relevant as I look at the recent conflicts in our beloved Malaysia today. We are currently dealing with a turbulent season where issues of race and religion, the very fault lines of our nation’s soul, are being stress-tested almost daily.
It has become a distressing pattern, one person’s adverse comment, often laced with prejudice or ignorance, surfaces online. Instead of being dismissed as the fringe view of a fool, it is met with a tsunami of reaction.
It is shared, dissected and condemned across WhatsApp groups and social media platforms. News outlets pick it up, politicians issue statements and suddenly, what was a trivial spark has been fanned into a roaring fire that threatens to burn the very structure of our harmony.
In the recent weeks, the concern over this volatile cycle reached the highest levels of government. Entrepreneur, Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim and Human Resources Minister R. Ramanan announced they would raise the issue of religious and racial provocation at the Cabinet meeting, with Sim rightly calling for an end to “all forms of religious and racial violence and provocation”.
Ramanan highlighted the “worrying rise in statements, social media posts and online comments aimed at provoking racial tensions”.
This is the exact multiplication effect I am talking about where a single match of hatred, multiplied by a thousand reactions, creates an inferno.
This is precisely where the ancient power of not reacting becomes our most powerful tool for self-defence as a nation. When a provocateur desecrates a symbol or makes an extremist post, their primary goal is attention. They want to create a reaction, to force a cycle of retaliation that proves their hateful point that we cannot live together.
When we react with fury, with mob anger or with calls for retribution that bypass the legal process, we are playing into their hands. We are amplifying their message. We are handing them the megaphone.
The art of not reacting does not mean we condone the act – far from it. It means we channel our responses through the proper, dignified channels. It means we allow the authorities to do their job, as Ramanan urged the public to do.
It means we deny the viral post the engagement it craves and starve the extremist of the notoriety they seek. It is a conscious decision to say, “You will not provoke me into betraying the peace my ancestors and yours built together”.
National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang also echoed this sentiment, appealing to the public not to “act emotionally or spread speculation, particularly on social media”, reminding us that differences of opinion must be addressed “through the proper channels”.
This is the institutional voice of the art of non-reaction, a plea for a collective pause. Why is this pause so crucial? Because we have so much to lose.
As we sit here, enjoying the blessed calm of Ramadan, the world outside our shores is on fire. Geopolitical supremacy is being fought with real weapons, not keyboard wars. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has prompted our government to form a special committee to study its economic impact, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assuring us that our oil supply is secure, at least until May.
The government is monitoring the effects on global trade routes and logistics, knowing that a war thousands of miles away can still shake our economy. A special Cabinet meeting was even called to review our fiscal position in the face of these global shocks.
In a world where countries are waging wars that displace millions and shatter economies, Malaysia remains a remarkable anomaly. We are a land of relative calm in a turbulent sea.
As Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming recently observed, while we enjoy the peace of Ramadan, communities in other parts of the world are facing the brutal reality of conflict.
Our peace is not a given, it is a precious, fragile blessing that we have cultivated for decades. Why would we ever trade this priceless heritage for unsubstantiated skirmishes? Why would we sacrifice the safety of our children, the stability of our economy and the comfort of our multiracial friendships for the fleeting satisfaction of a viral clapback?
This is the choice before us. The art of not reacting is not just a personal wellness strategy; rather, it is an act of patriotism. It is a daily, collective discipline. It requires each of us to respect the belief systems of our neighbours, not just in our hearts, but also in our public interactions.
It means understanding that your freedom to speak must not become a tool to incite hostility among communities that have coexisted for generations.
Let us be clear-eyed about our enemies. They are not our fellow Malaysians of different races or religions. As Sim wisely stated, “Our enemies are not each other, regardless of race or religion. In a world full of turmoil, Malaysians must unite to strengthen businesses and develop the economy for the well-being of all”.
The provocateur wants you to see your neighbour as the enemy. The power of not reacting is about you halting briefly to see the truth – that our neighbour is our only partner in safeguarding this home.
So, the next time you see a post designed to divide or hear a comment meant to provoke, I urge you to consider this power of not reacting. Take a breath, scroll past and let the authorities handle the legal breach. Then, perhaps, call a friend from a different background and break fast with them.
In that simple act of choosing connection over combustion, you would have done more for Malaysia than any angry comment ever could. You would have saved our peace.
Dr Bhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in counselling. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
The Sun Malaysia
