Lawyer-activist Latheefa Koya has questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over what she described as “tough talk” on controversial preacher Zamri Vinoth, asking whether the shift in tone was linked to the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While she found Zamri’s views despicable, Latheefa (above) reminded the prime minister that he cannot threaten arrests before any crime had been committed.
“This is a nation of laws, a ‘negara hukum’. Even Zamri has a right to hold a protest - but without inciting hatred,” she said on X.
Earlier today, Anwar issued a stern warning that “maximum action”, including arrests, will be executed against any quarter that attempts to disrupt the peace while the nation is hosting foreign guests.
Anwar stressed that while the government upholds the right to criticise and freedom of expression, any actions that breach national laws or incite racial tensions will not be tolerated.
Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship Movement coordinator Zamri Vinoth had insisted the rally outside the Sogo shopping complex would proceed as planned, claiming that the police have “no power” to prevent the protest.
At a press conference this afternoon, Zamri even thanked Anwar and claimed to have been “given space to hold the gathering in a peaceful and orderly manner”.
“I would like to remind all parties not to twist or misrepresent the prime minister’s statement.
“We are also quite disappointed that the statement was issued by the authorities themselves without referring to the substance of the prime minister’s remarks,” Zamri claimed.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus earlier said police have not allowed the organisers to proceed with the rally.
Failure of moral leadership
Meanwhile, Latheefa took issue with what she described as a failure of moral leadership over the use of the term “illegal temples”, which she said had been used as a slur against Hindu temples since last year.
“Irresponsible quarters have been stoking tension using ‘illegal temples’ as a term of abuse since last year. Yet, Anwar did nothing all this while,” the former MACC chief commissioner said.
She argued that the labelling of Hindu temples as “illegal” gained traction after Anwar described the Masjid India temple as “illegal” in response to calls for a temple and mosque to co-exist side by side.
“He then launched the Masjid Madani and proclaimed ‘victory’. His ill-judged words were damaging and created an unhealthy situation in the country,” she added.
On Zamri, Latheefa pointed out that numerous police reports had been lodged against the controversial preacher but no action was taken.
“There are countless reports against Zamri, but Anwar’s administration took no action all this time,” she said.
Selective enforcement?
Questioning the timing of the latest warnings, she asked whether the law was being enforced selectively.
“So, do we enforce the law just because Modi is here? And when Modi is gone, will Anwar go silent again on the ‘illegal temple’ issue?
“If Anwar is concerned about race relations, he must accept responsibility for his ‘illegal temple’ remark and call for an end to the polemic. Will he do it?” she asked.
Separately, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim stressed that the right of the people to assemble peacefully must not be threatened or intimidated.
”No executive body - not even a prime minister - has the power to threaten or intimidate by promising maximum action against an assembly that is conducted peacefully.
”As long as an assembly proceeds peacefully, the role of security agencies such as the police is to act as facilitators, ensuring that the gathering, even if it lasts several hours, proceeds in accordance with the law,” stressed the veteran PKR lawmaker.
In April last year, MIC deputy president M Saravanan urged Anwar to direct all government agencies and departments to cease using the term “illegal temples”.
The former minister highlighted that many of these temples have existed for decades - long before the enactment of the National Land Code in 1965. - Mkini
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