My duty is to protect image of Islam, says Khalid Samad

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and his wife, Zaitun Abu Bakar, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court where he was charged with sedition last week. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 1, 2014.

Khalid Samad is afraid.

First, the Shah Alam MP had incurred the wrath of the Sultan of Selangor after proposing that the powers of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) be curbed and then he was charged with sedition for his remarks.

"Of course, I am afraid. Of course, I am concerned how people will react and what they think of me," the PAS central committee member told The Malaysian Insider at his office recently.

Although the risk of being disqualified as MP looms large, Khalid has vowed not to let it rattle him or his principles.

"I feel that my first responsibility is to make sure that we have a proper and more responsible representation of Islamic teachings. That is why I said what I said about Mais."

Khalid said he was not speaking out against the royals, neither was he looking to pick a fight with the sultan.

"I want Mais to be a proper embodiment of Islamic values such that people can see Islam for what it is because these actions also will tarnish the image of the religion," he said, referring to the seizure of Iban and Malay Bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) in January.

He said that even if the religious authorities wanted to act on claims of proselytising among Muslims, which were forbidden, it should have done it in a manner in line with the principles of Islam.

"This includes respecting the Holy Books of others and their houses of worship as enshrined in the teachings of Islam.

"But Mais prefers to flex their muscles and want to show their power so they do not show any form of respect to other religions, which is contrary to Islamic teachings itself," he added.

This, the 57-year-old politician said, was something he had to speak out against as Mais did not take into consideration of the negative effects its actions brought to Islam.

"Otherwise, people will say Islam is not fair, it doesn't respect other religions, which is not true."

Khalid also dismissed allegations that the reason he was speaking out against Mais was to gain more votes and also because he was bowing down to pressure from non-Muslims.

"With all due respect, the question of trying to champion the rights of non-Muslims is not my first priority," the vocal PAS politician said.

"My first priority is to ensure there is a more accurate representation of Islamic values and principles with respect to the treatment of non-Muslims.

"Second is, of course, because Islamic teachings are such that I have to protect the rights of non-Muslims as enshrined in Islamic teachings."

He admitted that speaking out against Mais was not possibly the best career move for a PAS politician with but said his beliefs overrode this concern.

"Some of my colleagues said that for PAS, being an Islamic party which fundamentally gets its support from the Malays, we shouldn't be seen in conflict with religious authorities."

"I admit that is the case but a true representation of Islam is a greater priority."

Khalid, who was charged with sedition last Tuesday, was one in a long list of Pakatan Rakyat politicians slapped with a charge under the Sedition Act over the last two weeks.

Last Thursday, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli was charged with insulting Umno members through an article published by The Edge Malaysia.

N. Surendran, who is PKR vice-president, was charged twice with sedition in two weeks, for allegedly saying that the Anwar Sodomy II appeal was a political conspiracy involving Putrajaya.

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer was also hit with two sedition charges over his "Umno celaka" remark.

Former Perak MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who is also from PAS, was also charged early last week with defaming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a speech he allegedly made two years ago‎.

"This is a sign of desperation (by the Barisan Nasional). In the old days when ISA (Internal Security Act) was around, they might have used that. Now they are using the Sedition Act," Khalid said.

"The prime minister is going back on his word to repeal the law. And that is no surprise."

He was referring to Najib's pledge in 2012 to abolish the draconian Sedition Act but recent prosecution against opposition politicians had seen the PM coming under fire for reneging his promise.

"He (Najib) has not been very good at keeping his word," Khalid added.

Khalid was also detained under the ISA for nine months in 1987.

Putrajaya, however, defended the recent slew of sedition charges against opposition politicians, saying that the courts were fair to all.

The Prime Minister's Office, in a statement over the weekend, said that the government would repeal the Sedition Act and replace it with the National Harmony Bill as pledged.

The statement said the National Harmony Bill was currently in drafting stage.

- TMI