Pusat Komas said while legal action may serve as a deterrent, it does not address the root cause of such incidents, namely the lack of systemic efforts to foster genuine understanding among communities.

It also said the selective application of laws in response to public outrage does little to prevent future occurrences or promote meaningful change.

The NGO said a dedicated commission, on the other hand, would help manage racial and religious tensions, fostering understanding and promoting long-term social cohesion.

Such a commission would provide consistent and meaningful solutions in addressing inter-community conflicts.

“It would also act as an advisory body to the government to ensure that educational and restorative measures are prioritised over punitive responses,” it said.

Three Era FM radio hosts courted controversy after a video in which they seemingly mocked the kavadi ritual went viral, which triggered widespread criticisms and a flurry of police reports.

Radin Amir Affendi Ahmad Aruani, Azad Jasmin and Nabil Ahmad have since apologised for their actions and have been suspended.

They were also investigated for wounding religious feelings, among others, with the investigation paper on the video referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued a notice of intent to suspend the licence of Era FM’s operator, which has been given 30 days to submit a response before any final decision is made.

Last year, the Malaysian Bar reiterated its call for the introduction and enactment of national harmony bills, which would provide a framework to address issues of racial, religious, and social intolerance.