Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and lawyer Adnan Seman at the High Court in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, today. The Malay rights group is suing Tan Sri Joseph Kurup for allegedly labelling the group as extremist. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, January 28, 2015.
Malay rights group Perkasa today filed a defamation suit against Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup for allegedly labelling the group as extremist.
In the suit, which was filed at the Jalan Duta High Court by the group’s legal representative Adnan Seman, Perkasa is seeking an apology from the minister over his remarks as well as damages.
In its statement of claim, Perkasa named two statements made by Kurup on December 24, 2014 and yesterday in which he had allegedly accused Perkasa and Isma of being bigots who must not be tolerated. He was also allegedly said “we must not condone their extremist voices and actions”.
The group said the statements implied that Perkasa was an extremist group that used religion to spark violence and cause unrest in the country. The alleged statement also suggested that the group had caused fear and disunity in the country.
Its president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, said because of such statements, Perkasa’s reputation has been damaged and has been viewed negatively by the public.
He said it was time the organisation hauled those accusing it of being “extremist” to court to prove their claims.
"This is what they have been saying over and over again. When I said something as a response to something, I have been labelled as a racist, extremist," he said.
Ibrahim also alleged that Kurup might have had a personal vendetta against him as the minister had asked Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail to reopen the file against Ibrahim over the “Bible burning” issue.
Kurup had allegedly said this in a statement to the media on November 3, 2014.
“A-G has found no case to charge me in court. Why is he (Kurup) now trying to put pressure on A-G to reopen the case. The attack is now personal. I have repeatedly said that my statement was twisted,” said Ibrahim.
He said politicians have been using Perkasa as their punching bag, accusing it of being extremist and racist as they have no issues or new things to highlight.
“They want political mileage and using Perkasa will give them just that. Let me tell you that Perkasa is a legitimate organisation. We are not racist, we are not extremist. Have you seen any of us on the street being violent?
“We acted within the laws to uphold the Federal Constitution and I know what I am talking about when I speak about something,” said Ibrahim, referring to the “Bible burning” comment he allegedly made in January last year.
Adnan said Perkasa will also be filing similar suits soon against several individuals.
"So far we have sent a notice to the eminent 25 leader Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin. We will wait for her response," said Adnan.
On December 26, Ibrahim filed a defamation suit against English daily The Star and its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai over Wong’s opinion piece on the “Bible burning” issue.
- TMI
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