Bersatu man wants law applied equally on 'controversial issues'

As police spent hours questioning the Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, Bersatu supreme council member Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen (photo, above) urged that the law should be enforced against others who touch on "controversial issues" too.

Without naming names, he said, “Just as the law should be enforced against Zakir for his statement, stern legal action should also be enforced against the minister who called Malays ‘pendatang’, the Tan Sri who changed the colour of the Malaysian flag to black stripes, and the businessperson who insulted military personnel as only knowing how to eat and sleep, and the elected representative who linked the Jawi script to pornography.

“Legal action should be taken fairly, comprehensively, and not selectively, upon controversial issues that affect the country, including the Zakir issue. That is the hope of the people of Malaysia,” he said in a statement last night.

Rafiq appeared to be referring to allegations levelled against Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran, Country Heights Holdings Bhd founder Lee Kim Yew, Gamuda Bhd founder Koon Yew Yin, and Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi.

For the record, Kula had denied making the alleged remarks, while Wong claimed her speech was taken out of context. Both Lee and Koon had apologised.

In a recent ceramah in Kota Bharu, Zakir suggested that those who want him deported because he is a "guest" should instead ask Chinese Malaysians, whom he described as "old guests", to go home first.

He also suggested that Hindu Malaysians were more supportive of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi than Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He later claimed those statements were taken out of context and apologised.

Police had questioned Zakir for three hours on Friday last week, and more than 10 hours on Monday this week. Police have also banned programmes linked to the speaker.

Rafiq said Zakir should have focused his proselytisation on strengthening Islam without touching on Malaysia’s racial and religious sensitivities.

“Any proselytisation to strengthen the position of Islam by any preacher should not be questioned and allowed to proceed as long as it is well-mannered (berhemah) and does not violate the law,” he added.