Even as Sedition trial looms, unrepentant Isma incites Malays against Chinese 'in the name of race & religion'

KUALA LUMPUR - In an unusual stunt, Malay Muslim group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) sent out a shout-all on YouTube today for its supporters to show up in force at court for the sedition trial of its president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, scheduled to run from October 13 to 15.

Abdullah Zaik will be tried at the Kajang Sessions Court in Selangor for allegedly uttering seditious statements against Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese.

In a nearly five-minute long video titled “Pewaris Bangsa” or “Heir of the Race” posted on YouTube, the Islamist NGO urged the public to gather in front of the Kajang Sessions Court in the morning of the first day of the trial, “in the name of religion and race”.

Isma deputy president Aminuddin Yahaya claimed in the video that Abdullah Zaik was merely defending Islam and the Malay race and that his president was facing trumped-up charges.

“When we defend our religion and race, people say we are racist. All these statements saying (we are) racist and extremist were deliberate,” he said.

The NGO’s vice-president Muhammad Fauzi Asmuni added that it is only right that Isma defends Islam and the Malay race, which he described as the two pillars that form the basis of Malaysia and cannot be challenged.

“Our constitution is based on the two pillars, our culture is based on the two pillars, our language is based on the two pillars, so they must be defended,” he said.

Fellow vice-president Abdul Rahman Mat Dali said Abdullah Zaik’s statements were justified due to the alleged interference by the Chinese in Malay affairs.

“We Malays had no problem when they came and lived here, we didn’t disturb (them). But now in recent times, they have started interfering in the affairs of the Malays, the Muslims and challenged the position of the Malays and Muslims,” he said.

The video has drawn 87 views since its posting earlier this evening

In June, Abdullah Zaik was charged under the Sedition Act 1948 for a May 6 statement in which he called the Chinese “intruders” into “Malay land”, who had been brought by British colonialists to “oppress” and “bully” the Malays.

He was charged under Section 4(1) of the Act and also faces an alternative charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the same law, both of which carry a maximum fine of RM5,000, no more than three years jail, or both.

Putrajaya has been on a sedition blitz in past months, hauling in politicians, activists and academics who are largely critical of the federal administration. -Malay Mail