KENINGAU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth and UPKO Youth have expressed their full support for the statement made by Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chairman cum Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar that he did not agree with the Attorney General Chambers’ decision in classifying Ibrahim Ali’s statement to burn the Bible in Malay language as seditious.
“Burning the scriptures of other religions is an insult to its followers, and if this is not considered seditious, then we do not know what the meaning of sedition is,” said PBS Youth chief Datuk Jake Nointin in a statement here yesterday.
Jake stressed that if the Malays themselves, like Khairy, clearly questioned the Attorney General’s statement, what about the non-Muslims or non-Malays, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak?
He proposed and urged the Attorney General to re-examine his statement for the benefit of all parties, because the statement from the Attorney General’s office could convey a wrong perception on the credibility of the judicial system in the country.
“I agree with Khairy that the Attorney General is free to make decisions on prosecution, but PBS Youth Movement hopes the Attorney General will give special consideration to sensitive issues such as measures to maintain racial and religious harmony in a country which is famous for its multi-racial society.
“As a politician, I do not want the Attorney General’s statement to be seen as dictated by certain parties and become an asset for the opposition parties to crush the government. The statement also seemed to justify the perception that Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa are immune from any legal actions.
“We, PBS Youth Movement and BN Youth members cling to the stand by BN Youth Malaysia which urges the authorities to take immediate and decisive action against any individual or party who raises sensitive issues intended to offend any religion in this country,” he said.
“The BN government is a government that is responsible and should be firm and consistent in all action and enforcement,” he said.
According to him, the spirit of tolerance, respect and unity is the key to the success of the country.
UPKO Youth chief Arthur Sen said: “Even though we respect that the Attorney General has the power to decide whether to initiate any criminal proceedings against any person in this country, the decision not to charge Datuk Ibrahim Ali concerning his call to burn Bibles is a matter of deep concern and worry.”
It was reported that the Attorney General has said Ibrahim had no intention to create religious tensions by making the call.
Arthur however was of the opinion that by making an open statement that the Bible should be burned is in itself a statement that creates animosity and tension amongst those who read or heard it.
He pointed out that Section 298 of the Penal Code itself clearly states that any person is guilty if deliberately intending to wound the religious feelings of any person.
“Any reasonable person who made such statement would have known the impact and sensitivity that it would create towards multi-religious Malaysia. The Bible is the holy book of the Christian faith and any holy book from any other religion also should be handled with utmost care and respect.
“We have always been taught and advised the virtue of tolerance, respect and understanding in our approach towards sensitive issues such as race and religion. Such virtues are the ties that bind us as a multi-racial and multi-religious nation.
“The Attorney General should be brave to make the call and to charge Datuk Ibrahim Ali for making such irresponsible and seditious statements that had created animosity and had hurt the feelings of Christians in this country,” he stressed.