Son of Ibrahim: Don't use ISA or sedition laws against Ibrahim, the extremist

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim does not support calls for sedition laws nor the Internal Security Act be used against Ibrahim Ali, the leader of Malay right-wing group Perkasa.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini yesterday, Anwar said that Malaysians must instead collectively decide whether they were willing to condone the incitement of religious or racial hatred by Perkasa and other right-wing groups.

"People who are angry with Ibrahim asked for him to be charged with sedition or ISA. I don't. As a matter of principle, I don't support ISA or the Sedition Act and therefore I do not condone the use of these (laws), even as a temporary measure. (But) should a civilised country, after half a century of independence, condone these sorts of sentiments?," Anwar said.

Ibrahim, who is also Pasir Mas parliamentarian, had come under fire for calling for a 'crusade' and 'jihad' (holy war) against Christians who were accused of trying to undermine Islam's position in Malaysia. at a 1Malaysia event last Saturday.

The call was in response to a heavily-refuted Utusan Malaysia's report that a group of church leaders had taken an oath to make Christianity the country's official religion and to install a Christian prime minister.