A-G ‘not concerned’ by Perkasa’s call

A-G's Chambers will only act on Perkasa chief's call to burn the Bibles if the deed is carried out.

PETALING JAYA: The Attorney-General’s (A-G) Chambers will only act on Perkasa president, Ibrahim Ali’s controversial call to burn copies of the Malay Bibles if the books are actually burnt.

Responding to Ibrahim’s call on Saturday for Muslims to seize and burn copies of Bibles containing the term “Allah” or other Arabic religious words, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said: “I will look at it if the act is done…”

Gani, who seemed unperturbed by the widespread reactions following Ibrahim’s inciting call, told FMT that he was “not concerned” by the statement and would only probe the case if reports are lodged.

“I am not concerned with such statements. I will look at it [the issue] if the act [of burning] is done and if there is an investigation, ” he said.

He added that in such a scenario, his “advice to the government will be a separate matter” and one which he would “take seriously”.

Crossing the line

Meanwhile, several prominent lawyers today called for action to be taken against Ibrahim, who they agreed was “inciting intolerance” and “religious hatred” among Malaysians.

Lawyer and human rights advocate Siti Kasim believes firm action should be taken against Ibrahim for disrespecting non-Muslims with his “insensitive remarks”.

“If no action is taken [against Ibrahim], it would seem like we are allowing such comments to be made against other people and other religions,” she told FMT.

“[Ibrahim] has crossed the line in making such comments. It is unacceptable and I am thinking about making a police report with my colleagues,” she added, explaining that the authorities can only act upon the issue once a police report is made.

She praised the Christians and non-Muslims for keeping calm over the “uncalled-for” speech, and described Ibrahim as “somebody who is just trying to grab the limelight”.

Umno lawyer Hafarizam Harun said both Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should be investigated and if there is a prima facie case, they be charged with inciting “religious disharmony, hatred, disunity and discomfort”.

“That way we maintain the principle of ‘upholding the rule of law without fear or favour’,” he said alluding to Lim’s Christmas message calling for Christians to be allowed to use the “Allah” term, which rekindled the controversy.

The controversy first appeared early last year when an uproar broke out against the usage of Allah’s name in Malay Bibles, predominantly used by the native Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

Pakatan Rakyat has maintained the stand that everyone is allowed to use Allah’s name even though PAS’ Syura Council recently decided against this.

Early this month, the Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decreed that non-Muslims are not allowed to use the term “Allah”.