By Jason Yeo
PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) leaders have been told not to “play victim” when the police take action against them for stirring up 3R issues (race, religion and royalty) during the campaign period leading up to the forthcoming six state elections on Aug 12.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Malay Rulers, alongside Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had, in the past, already gave multiple reminders to all parties against the use of the 3Rs during campaigning.
“When action is taken, they (PN leaders) are going to claim to be victims. They will claim that there is no freedom of speech in Malaysia.
“So, again, I repeat…please refrain from touching on issues where reminders have been issued repeatedly by the authorities and the royal institution,” Saifuddin said in an event in Georgetown, Penang last night (Aug 3).
At the same time, Saifuddin pointed out that PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s action in touching on the 3R issue during a PN event in Kapar, Selangor had been classified as a high-profile case.
Saifuddin explained that this was because Muhyiddin brought up the use of the word ‘Allah’.
“The Sultan of Selangor had before this ruled that the issue should not be debated until it is discussed at the Rulers Conference. However, Muhyiddin had failed to adhere to the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, who is also the chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI).
“The people can judge this. If Tuanku’s advice can be ignored, whose advice will he listen to?” the PKR secretary-general added.
During a PN event in Kapar on Sunday (July 30), Muhyiddin accused the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being run by non-Malays, citing the “Allah” issue as an example.
The Pagoh MP said that when he was the home minister in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government of 2018-2020, he came under pressure from DAP not to allow an appeal against a High Court ruling that allowed a Sarawakian Bumiputera Christian to use the word “Allah”.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin, who is also PH secretary-general, advised protesters against destroying campaigning materials such as billboards and posters throughout the campaigning period.
“Such a thing should not be happening now as people are becoming more well informed. This was not politics in the 1960s or 1970s. Such incidents are regrettable.
“So, I am advising them against repeating such action as it is no good for our political culture,” the former Pantai Jerejak assemblyman said. – Aug 4, 2023
Main pic credit: Berita Harian
