This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on June 19, 2017 - June 25, 2017

James Hodgkinson, the 66-year-old who carried out the attack on Republican congressmen at Alexandria, Virginia, in the US, was said to be “passionate” about politics.

As I write this, Hodgkinson had been identified by the US law enforcers. According to CNN, Hodgkinson’s Facebook page is largely political and filled with anti-Trump sentiments.

And Hodgkinson had volunteered for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. In an immediate response, Sanders condemned the shooting “in the strongest possible terms”, going on to say he was “sickened by this despicable act”.

As we know, Hodgkinson, armed with a rifle of some sort, opened fire, wounding Steve Scalise, the third-highest ranked member of the House Republican leadership as the majority whip. Also injured were his staff and police officers.

Hodgkinson was gunned down by police and killed. At the time of writing, it was too early to conclude that this was a case of a man driven to violence due to his hatred for President Donald Trump and the Republican party he leads.

But the authorities did say the attack was “deliberate”. That could be read as the shooter having targeted Republican politicians on purpose.

Now, onto our shores. While I’m not equating the Virginia incident with things at home, it is nevertheless disturbing to note of late that acts of violence carried out by so-called NGOs and individuals are escalating.

Perhaps “escalating” is a big word to use, but it is a fact that aggressive acts have been happening on a frequent (or should I say, regular) basis of late.

And let’s be frank. The NGOs in question can say what they like, but the acts seem all about politics. I don’t know whether the NGOs are “passionate” about politics but their aggressive actions are definitely politically linked.

A certain political party, in wanting to garner support for the next general election, has engendered what I would call the politics of religion and race — painting rival parties to be “anti-Islam” and “anti-Malay”. 

Excuse me, but aren’t we all Malaysians?

And somehow, the said NGOs (and certain individuals) have responded by holding protests that have seen acts of violence against leaders and members of political parties accused of being anti-Islam.

In Penang, in particular, this has happened frequently, notably after Friday prayers in front of mosques.

Need I name the parties concerned? I don’t think so as it is already clear as daylight. Nonetheless, the perception is that the NGOs and individuals are linked to the political party that is hurling accusations of its rivals being anti-Islam of late rather than anti-Malay.

There is also a perception that the political party had given the NGOs and individuals their “blessings” to do what they do or have been doing.

Yes, merely perception. Still, as they say, in politics perception is everything.

Anyway, it was good of Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin to speak out against what happened at the Ramadan bazaar in Kluang recently when DAP MP Liew Chin Tong and his supporters were violently prevented from distributing dates to people there.

And kudos to the police for their fast action in picking up the two men said to be involved.

To Khairy, such acts must be condemned and “it is unnecessary for us to act like this even though we have different political views”. Well and good.

But perhaps it is time for more politicians themselves to cut down on their rhetoric of rivals being anti-Islam or anti-Malays, lest they be seen as fanning religious sentiments and prompting certain people or NGOs to carry out aggressive acts.

Certain people in my mind have their own agenda in carrying out such acts. No elaboration needed as many have their own take on this.

But the fear is, if there are people who, for whatever reason, could be sucked into the anti-Islam rhetoric to the extent of doing something violent — God forbid.

So I say let’s nip it in the bud now.

But the big question is: Will politicians stop using politics of religion and race, given the easiness to exploit voter sentiment and win support?

Many will have their doubts, but we are hopeful, nevertheless.

Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist who is now a freelance writer. He was formerly executive producer at The Edge TV.

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