I strongly condemn Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, who yesterday said that the German team had “fought like Hitler” and tweeted “Well done… Bravo… Long live Hitler…” in the semi-final between Brazil & Germany. Being an elected Parliamentarian of Malaysia, it is more reason for him to be sensitive towards the feeling of the people even if they are not Malaysians. His subsequent tweet defending his statement saying he had only done so out of his admiration for the German football team further undermines his credibility because Bung Moktar’s adulatory comment of Hitler was a slur to Germany rather than a compliment, and falls foul of the country’s denazification laws said the Chairman of Majlis Gagasan Malaysia, Manivannan Rethinam.

He added, the Nazi legacy is a subject that most Germans don’t want to talk about it, which Bung Moktar’s should be aware of, if he is really a hardcore supporter of the German football team nicknamed “Die Mannschaft”. Adolf Hitler practiced totalitarian Fascist ideology and policies. Nazism stressed the superiority of the Aryan, its destiny as the Master Race to rule the world over other races, and a violent hatred of Jews. Hitler was the man behind the Holocaust, the mass extermination and execution of millions of European Jews in concentration camps.

Manivannan who is also the Vice Chairman, MIC National Information highlighted,Modern-day Germany has laws that prohibit the distribution or public use of symbols of unconstitutional groups, in particular, flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting related to the Third Reich and other forms of fascism. Austrian-born Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany between 1934 and 1945, and was at the center of World War II. The salute for Hitler can constitute a crime in Germany. In Germany calling someone a Nazi is putting yourself up for a good punch on your nose or even get sued for offending.

During my many visits to Germany, I observed, majority Germans hate Hitler as he brought a bad name to the nation. There are exceptions as it is common in all countries where they are some small Neo-Nazi group movements which the government keeps a very close watch to avoid any unnecessary issues or incidents.

German majority has learned from their history and they will not allow anymore Nazi regime in their country. They will never forget all the evil that is associated with the 3rd Reich. Germany has become one of the strongest democratic republics in the world and the generation which was born after 1945 are proud to be Germans even so they have to live with the 3rd Reich burden of history.

This is neither about censorship nor about curtailing the right to humour. It is a concern about how we use language and the impact of that. Everything begins with words. That includes racist violence and genocide. When words are used irresponsibly, they lose their meaning, their power and any historical importance they might carry.

In the context of trite Nazi / Hitler references, they become cheapened, the experience is diluted and the words are offensive and hurtful, particularly to those who suffered. Misuse of ”Nazi” borders on blasphemy, yet it invariably falls safely within the ambit of free speech. No one owns the word, yet it connotes the most catastrophic regime of modern times. Thus any references glorifying the fascist regime of Adolf Hitler, is just not acceptable.

He concluded by saying it is our responsibility to make sure that injustice and oppression against other human being because of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation (or whatever else make someone “different”) is condemned in public.

Stand Up, Speak Out and Unite as Malaysians. Let’s promote peace and unity!