Lawyer: Charge Ibrahim Ali for hate speech

Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan also questions the selective use of Sedition Act.

PETALING JAYA: According to a civil liberties lawyer, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s speech on the Allah issue on Saturday was a hate speech and contravened the Penal Code and Sedition Act.

“Ibrahim Ali may have committed several offences under Sections 298 and 505 of the Penal Code,” said Syahredzan Johan.

Section 298 states that it is an offence to utter words that deliberately wound religious feelings. If found guilty, an offender can be imprisoned for a year, or fined or both.

Section 505 meanwhile states that it is an offence to make statements that that are conducing public mischief. Those found guilty under this section can be imprisoned for a span of two years, fined or both.

On Saturday, Ibrahim had called upon Muslims to seize and burn copies of Bibles which contained the term “Allah” or other Arabic religious words.

“Muslims must unite to protect their religion. They must seize those Bibles, including the Malay editions, which contained the term Allah and other Arabic religious terms, and burn them.

“This is the way to show our anger against disrespect to our sensitivity,” he told a press conference after delivering his presidential speech at a Perkasa convention held in UiTM campus in Permatang Pauh, Penang.

Ibrahim who is also Pasir Mas MP said that his statement was not made to instigate communal tensions.

The independent MP had said this in reference to a police report lodged by Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang last week alleging that two men have allegedly distributed Bibles to Muslims pupils at the entrance of a secondary school in Jelutong town on the island

Syahredzan added that there can be a case against Ibrahim under the Sedition Act as the act makes it an offence to raise discontent or feelings of ill-will.

He, however, was against the Sedition Act and its selective usage.

“Say something about Islam and we are so quick to act but in this case, why is there no investigation? Why is there an imbalance in treatment?” Syahredzan questioned.

He also pointed out that the Perkasa leader’s suggestion was against the norm of a civilised human.

“Burning books or holy books makes you anti-religion, anti-knowledge and anti-civilisation,” he said.