Akmal’s provocative statements inflaming extremists, says Sheikh Umar

 

Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said there is no need for Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to release any more statements, especially given the royal decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the legal actions taken so far. (X pic)

PETALING JAYA: It is not Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s intention to defend Islam from insults, but rather his provocative and irresponsible approach to the issue of socks bearing the word “Allah” that is encouraging some extremists, says Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.

The DAP central executive committee member called Akmal’s approach “dangerous”, saying that he was unwittingly sowing the seeds of extremism in the name of “defending the religion”.

“This is not what Islam teaches. Islam emphasises wisdom, exemplary advice and thoughtful debates, as said in verse 125 of Surah An-Nahl.

“In my opinion, Akmal brings the opposite approach, which can encourage the country’s Muslim community to act violently in the name of religion,” the Johor DAP vice-chairman said in a statement.

Sheikh Umar said in light of the two recent petrol bomb attacks on KK Mart outlets, Akmal may not realise that all his “excessive” statements on the issue could incite more unexpected violence.

He said that he hoped Akmal would learn from Abdul Hadi Awang’s speech in 1981, during which PAS accused Umno of maintaining a “colonial constitution and infidel laws”.

“PAS’s argument was a true defence of Islam,” he said.

Sheikh Umar said there is no need for Akmal to release any more statements, especially given the royal decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the legal actions taken so far.

“That is, if Akmal is truly sincere and does not want the situation to become more tense and worse than what has happened so far,” he said.

Earlier this week, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim urged all parties to stop taking advantage of the controversy involving the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.

The king said the matter should be left to the authorities, and that “persistent anger brings no benefit”.

So far, KK Mart’s founder and director Chai Kee Kan and Loh Siew Mui have been charged in court for intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks, while three officers from Xin Jiang Chang Sdn Bhd, the company which supplied the socks, were charged with abetment. - FMT