Cleric's statement likely seditious, says interfaith council

The statement by Gerakan Pembela Ummah chairperson Ismail Mina Ahmad that only the Malays resisted Japanese occupation is likely seditious, and factually not tenable, said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) today.

In a statement, MCCBCHST vice-president Jagir Singh said it is regrettable that a cleric who organised the "Rise of the Ummah" convention has purportedly misrepresented historical facts and in doing so, erased the contributions of non-Malays.

"Instead, they should be inclusive and recognise contributions of all ethnic groups, and help promote unity and promote the country's togetherness.

"The evidence of the contributions of non-Malays is clear for all to see," said Jagir, citing the statements disputing Ismail's (photo) remarks, by several parties, including the National Patriots Association and the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva), as examples.

Jagir then called on the government, especially the defence and home ministers, to issue statements to correct the misrepresented historical facts put out in the convention.

"Any non-action will only embolden them, and this, would, in the long run, result in disunity and instability in the country. The government must go further to probe the cleric for likely seditious utterances.

"Malaysians should unite and come together and recognise each other’s contributions so that we, as united Malaysians, can move the country we love forward."

During the convention on Saturday, Ismail had claimed that only the Malays had sacrificed their lives for Malaya and maintained that he was talking facts. 

"This is not racist but I'm talking about history. The ones who fought off Siam were the Malays.

"Later, who fought the Portuguese conquerors if not the Malays, even though non-Malays were already (living in Malaya) then," he said, adding that it was also the Malays who had fought the Japanese, British, and the Communists.

In reply, National Patriots Association president Mohamed Arshad Raji said in a statement that Ismail was wrong, as the non-Malays had also defended king and the country. - Mkini