The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) has urged the government to take stern action, including under the Internal Security Act (ISA) against an individual who mocked the Islamic call to prayer on YouTube.

azan islam call to prayer Describing the video footage as an immoral and irresponsible act, PPIM executive officer Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah said it offended and angered Muslims in the country.

"The azan (call to prayer), recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day, is to announce to the faithful that it is time for the obligatory prayer.

"It is not something that should be ridiculed, scorned, belittled and

made fun of.

"It is feared that if such antic is left unchecked it could disrupt harmony and unity that we cherished," he was quoted by Bernama as saying today.

NONE According to PPIM, the video entitled 'Rupanya Umat Islam suka mee wantan dan pau besar' ("Actually, Muslims like wantan mee and a large pau") and uploaded on Youtube depicts an unidentified individual speaking in Mandarin about the call to prayer. 

"The azan at subuh (dawn prayers) is like somebody who is shouting needlessly, like one who is ordering wantan mee.
 
"When the person is given wantee mee and eaten it, he then wants a pau bun!"

Mohd Mustaffa said the YouTube footage can be accessed through the PPIM website .

Thus, he added, action should be taken the individual responsible as a lesson for others not to mock any religion and turn it into matter of derision and contempt.

Rebutting PPIM, however, Movement to Abolish the ISA (GMI) said the use of the ISA would not resolve matters.

gmi indonesian embassy memo isa detainees 180108 e nalini "GMI recognises that the call for prayer is sacred in Islam and any act to mock the call is irresponsible and deplorable especially in Malaysia's multi-religious society.

"The individual involved must be put to justice," said GMI secretary E Nalini in a statement. 

However, the use of the draconian law may compound problems as the ISA relinquishes any need to produce evidence or to have trials and can serve as an easy way to avert or cover up the real issues.

"Furthermore, ISA is in direct violation of basic human rights and rule of law," she added.

azlan "GMI advises all parties to be prudent in suggesting the use of ISA as the implications are big. The wide array of powers under the ISA opens up opportunities to contaminate truth and justice," said Nalini.  

"GMI would like to reminds the government that the ISA makes a mockery of the principle of presumption of innocent until proven guilty; it unjustly denies our civil liberties; it allows for detention without trial and thus denies natural justice.

"Worse still, it creates conditions for torture and other degrading forms of treatment while under detention.

"GMI calls upon the government to stop arresting people under the ISA,  abolish the draconian law, and release all ISA detainees or to charge them in court."

It would be in the interests of all that proper investigation be made and due process of law is followed.