Minister Nancy Shukri's latest excuse that
threats to burn the Malay Bible were purportedly in line with the
Federal Constitution is an even worse "blunder" than her earlier
explanation, DAP says.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today Nancy's "egregious justification" for the government's inaction against Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was "an even worse blunder" than the earlier excuse that he was merely "defending Islam".
"By
explaining that not prosecuting Ibrahim Ali for threatening to burn
Malay or Iban versions of the Bible is in line with the Federal
Constitution, Nancy has shown herself at best, a lawyer with no
knowledge of the law or at worst, a closet Perkasa supporter and clone
of Ibrahim Ali," Lim said in a statement.
He said Nancy's "defending Islam" excuse was "incredible", arguing it does not exist in sedition law "and is completely unacceptable".
The minister, he said, was either "ignorant of the law" or the government was practising "blatant double standards" in letting Ibrahim off the hook at the height of a crackdown using the Sedition Act.
"This 'blatant double standards' ... highlights the abuse of sedition laws as a weapon of mass destruction to persecute those who oppose BN, but will shield pro-BN parties from any prosecution," he said.
'Tell that to S'wak Christians'
Lim challenged Nancy to repeat her excuse, that Ibrahim's call was in line with the Federal Constitution, in front of Christians in her home state of Sarawak.
"Even Sarawak Land Development Minister James Masing has said that this places Islamist extremists above the law and that 'it is acceptable to burn the Bible, insult believers of other faiths and do disrespectful acts in defence of the sanctity of Islam'.
"BN
and Nancy’s act of defending Ibrahim is 'most dangerous', as it will
allow other extremist groups that make provocative statements and
actions to get away with their act by offering a similar excuse," Lim
said.
"Would BN and Nancy summon the necessary courage to meet and explain this latest policy decision of BN with Christians and other religious groups who are distraught, distressed and disturbed by this dangerous development?"
Lim also took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim to Islamic moderation that was expoused abroad, saying Najib "might as well dissolve his Global Movement of Moderates if this is how the religious faith and rights of non-Muslims are treated".
In contrast, he said, he appreciated the support of many Muslim groups "who were equally shocked by this dangerous policy of BN and opposed the dangerous justification of Nancy" with reminders that it is against Islamic principles.
Although Lim did not name any group, former Umno deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah notably slammed Nancy yesterday, saying the government should not use such arguments to justify Perkasa's call, as it did not reflect the principles of Islam.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today Nancy's "egregious justification" for the government's inaction against Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was "an even worse blunder" than the earlier excuse that he was merely "defending Islam".
"By
explaining that not prosecuting Ibrahim Ali for threatening to burn
Malay or Iban versions of the Bible is in line with the Federal
Constitution, Nancy has shown herself at best, a lawyer with no
knowledge of the law or at worst, a closet Perkasa supporter and clone
of Ibrahim Ali," Lim said in a statement.He said Nancy's "defending Islam" excuse was "incredible", arguing it does not exist in sedition law "and is completely unacceptable".
The minister, he said, was either "ignorant of the law" or the government was practising "blatant double standards" in letting Ibrahim off the hook at the height of a crackdown using the Sedition Act.
"This 'blatant double standards' ... highlights the abuse of sedition laws as a weapon of mass destruction to persecute those who oppose BN, but will shield pro-BN parties from any prosecution," he said.
'Tell that to S'wak Christians'
Lim challenged Nancy to repeat her excuse, that Ibrahim's call was in line with the Federal Constitution, in front of Christians in her home state of Sarawak.
"Even Sarawak Land Development Minister James Masing has said that this places Islamist extremists above the law and that 'it is acceptable to burn the Bible, insult believers of other faiths and do disrespectful acts in defence of the sanctity of Islam'.
"BN
and Nancy’s act of defending Ibrahim is 'most dangerous', as it will
allow other extremist groups that make provocative statements and
actions to get away with their act by offering a similar excuse," Lim
said."Would BN and Nancy summon the necessary courage to meet and explain this latest policy decision of BN with Christians and other religious groups who are distraught, distressed and disturbed by this dangerous development?"
Lim also took a swipe at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim to Islamic moderation that was expoused abroad, saying Najib "might as well dissolve his Global Movement of Moderates if this is how the religious faith and rights of non-Muslims are treated".
In contrast, he said, he appreciated the support of many Muslim groups "who were equally shocked by this dangerous policy of BN and opposed the dangerous justification of Nancy" with reminders that it is against Islamic principles.
Although Lim did not name any group, former Umno deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah notably slammed Nancy yesterday, saying the government should not use such arguments to justify Perkasa's call, as it did not reflect the principles of Islam.
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