Скачать или смотреть The Apology of Rex Tan

Rex Tan has issued a three-page apology barely a week after the controversy erupted, and while his retraction acknowledges the absurdity of his original question, it raises a more disturbing issue about Malaysian political discourse. The apology itself wasn't necessarily driven by genuine reflection or reasoned criticism—it was forced out by a coordinated campaign of doxxing, threats, and intimidation targeting Rex. This pattern reveals something troubling about how certain groups in Malaysia claim to uphold the highest moral values while simultaneously wielding harassment and racial slurs as their preferred tools of persuasion.

The sheer volume of racist commentary that emerged in response to Rex's mistake exposes the reality behind the performative outrage. These aren't defenders of dignity or moral order—they're people desperately seeking socially acceptable outlets for prejudices they harbor year-round, latching onto controversies like this to legitimize their hatred under the guise of protecting race and religion. Meanwhile, figures like Marzuki Shaary face no comparable backlash despite arguably more serious transgressions, notably the exact thing that Rex did (while citing Han Suyin's And The Rain My Drink, suggesting this selective fury has less to do with principle and everything to do with opportunity. The fact that Rex apologized while Marzuki hasn't even acknowledged wrongdoing reveals exactly who these online mobs are willing to target and who they're willing to protect.

What Rex said was profoundly stupid, and criticism of his journalism was entirely justified. But the moment doxxing and threats entered the equation, this stopped being about accountability and became about intimidation—the same playbook used against the Glamping with Pride event and countless others who've run afoul of Malaysia's self-appointed moral enforcers. If we accept that media should be free to ask questions, even terrible ones, and that citizens shouldn't face threats for their speech, then we need to recognize that the people making these threats aren't defending Malaysian values—they're undermining the possibility of a civilized society. Let me know in the comments whether you think Rex deserves forgiveness, and whether the response to his mistake crossed a line.

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