Perkasa proposes Amir Act ‘to protect Islam and Malay rulers’

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali proposes five strokes of the cane and a jail sentence of at least five years for offenders under Amir Act.

KUALA LUMPUR: Right-wing Malay movement Perkasa has proposed that a special Act, namely the Insulting Islam and the Malay Rulers Act (or “Amir Act”), be enacted to prevent actions or attempts to threaten the peace and harmony of the country.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the law could be enacted with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay rulers.

“This new act proposed by Perkasa is the same as the one (lese-majeste act) being implemented in Thailand right now.

“Perkasa suggests that the act have two sections, the first part providing for detention without trial and the second allowing prosecution in court as a criminal offence.

“For the Amir Act, the concept is similar to the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, imposing mandatory five strokes of the cane and a jail sentence of at least five years,” he told a press conference after opening the 9th annual general meeting of Perkasa here today.

Ibrahim said this punitive act would act as a reminder and lesson to all parties not to touch on or insult the honour of Islam or the Malay rulers, as the rulers are the head of Islam at state and federal levels.

Earlier, at noon, more than 100 Perkasa members had gathered peacefully for an hour at a hotel compound on Jalan Raja Alang here, holding placards and shouting “Allahu Akbar”. - FMT