As the enormity of the outrages against Christian churches in the Klang Valley spread nationwide, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim struck themes of condemnation, mortification and also of inclusiveness in a campaign swing through three constituencies in Penang today.

Speaking to reporters after presenting spectacles to 208 residents of Permatang Pauh at Yayasan Aman in Penanti, Anwar reminded Muslims that as the majority community in Malaysia they should take care of the rights of minorities.

pakatan convention 191209 anwar talk “They should be concerned for the freedom of all the people to live in peace and dignity,” he said in response to the press of media inquiry about his views on developments in the Klang Valley.

“Islamic leaders and organisations in the country should condemn the attacks on the churches because this is not allowed in Islam,” he asserted.  

“The attacks have presented an ugly image of Malaysia. I have received calls from foreign journalists, including from the New York Times, inquiring about the situation in the country,” he disclosed.

Anwar said he was mortified by the inquiries that suggested the country’s harmony was being disrupted by anger and misunderstanding stemming from the use of terms that should not be wrenched out of context.

“The Home Ministry should have called Muslim preachers and church leaders to a dialogue to see how best they could ease misunderstanding and tension over matters like this,” he said.

Independent investigation

He said he was against the use of the Internal Security Act against citizens and described the threat by the police chief to use it against protesters of the court decision to allow for non-Muslim use of term ‘Allah’ as “trying to bolt the stable after the horses had fled.”

“The police should have investigated those calling for protest action against the court decision rather than waited this long,” he lamented.

Anwar then called for “an independent investigation of those behind the incitement that has led to the attacks against churches” in the Klang Valley.

“The attacks have exposed the government’s 1Malaysia concept as an attempt to mislead the people to keep in power a government that has long lacked the political and moral legitimacy to govern,” he asserted.

“They have allowed this issue to escalate to this point of tension and outrage to divert public attention from a host of issues besieging them, like the death of Teoh Beng Hock, Port Klang Free Zone, and the theft of fighter jet engines,” he elaborated.

“They should have called in the people who run the Catholic publication, Herald, to discuss things rather than allow the matter to simmer in the public domain,” he added.

“This is a government that proclaims itself as being for one Malaysia but it has two standards of treatment - one for those who support them and another for those whose support it suspects,” chimed Anwar sarcastically.