'Human rights a front to erode sanctity of Islam'

Academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has joined the bandwagon against human rights, declaring it to be a platform to undermine the sanctity of Islam.

"Many hide behind the veil of this (human rights) movement through their wicked plan to destroy and erode the sanctity of Islam," he wrote in his column in Sinar Hariantoday.

His remarks come less than a week after former police chief Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor warned of the coming of a "human rights wave" that would undermine the social contract.

"I fully agree with Rahim, that the human rights movement is akin to (a revival of communism)," Tee said.

Clarifying his statement that hudud law must be implemented "by force", he said firmness is required or Islam would gradually be rejected by the human rights movement that undermines Islam and the Malays.

When non-Muslims are accustomed to Islam, he said, it would make them more receptive and enable them to change their perception of the religion.

"Now, whenever you mention Islam, it is immediately opposed from all angles but Islam is totally unrelated to them. What is more, we have never interfered in (non-Muslim) religious affairs."

The "by force" comments were made in the context of the May 13, 1969 riots which, he said, was also a period when then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew successfully "disciplined his people by force".

He further claimed that Malaysiakini had "sensationalised" hiscomments, causing him to be attacked by the news portal's readers.

"But I am not surprised because all the readers of that website are ultra kiasu, including the Malays. If these ultra kiasu are daring enough, they should give their views without using aliases.”

Last week, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had backed Abdul Rahim’s statement, stating that human rights have been manipulated for political expediency.

‘Update anti-apostasy law'

In a separate Sinar Harian report, Terengganu Religious and Information Committee chairperson Khazan Che Mat echoed the federal government's stand against the need for an anti-apotasy law.

He said there is already such legislation in various states, but called for the law in Terengganu to be updated in terms of enforcement.