Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has launched a broadside on national laureate A Samad Said, whom it claimed was "acting on behalf of certain powers" on the issue of threats to Islam and the Malays.

"If it (statements) come from some politicians who always use such an excuse (accusing a certain political party of being behind every event or scene), it can be understood as they always use it to escape the truth of the matter," said the movement's policy research unit head Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz.

However, he added that the laureate, who is affectionately known as Pak Samad, and several other Malay leaders have been "manipulated by certain parties" in the name of human and national rights.

He questioned if these Malay luminaries were "blind or naive to this fact".

"Clear evidence, events and petitions to challenge Islam and Malays have been around in the last few years in this country, showing the real threats," he added.

Badrulhisham was responding to Samad's remarks at a forum last night, where he said that claims of Malays and Islam being under threat was "seasonal" which emerge during elections and Umno general assemblies.

'Respect our rights'

Meanwhile, the Isma researcher said the movement has been consistent in its struggle to uphold the sovereignty of Islam and the Malays.

"Even in the case of the federal constitution, Isma is defending the rights of Malays and Muslims that are being challenged day to day by those who are greedy.

"In fact, these greedy people are the ones who are extremists; and pose threats to our country," he added.

He said Isma also wanted "all those who claim to be a loyal Malaysian citizen" to recognise and respect the rights and special status of the Malays, Muslims and rulers as enshrined in the constitution.

"Isma never questions the rights of non-Muslims and non-Malays to practice their religion and cultures in this country," he added.