Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has warned that the Arab Spring may take place in Malaysia as well, if the country is not careful.

In an interview published by Sinar Harian today, Musa said the danger was real, because the country was leaning more towards Western values.

"What this means is that things that may have been haram may be permitted as we are liberal.

NONE "The Al Quran and hadith (sayings of the prophet) are considered only for religious purposes and not for our social and livelihood matters. This is my personal view, on what I observe," he said.

"Hence, if we are not careful and are not strict (it may happen). We have to be strict as this is our country," the Malay daily quotes Musa ( right ) as saying.

Noting that Malaysia was a developing country that aimed to achieve fully-developed status under Vision 2020, the former IGP warned that if there was chaos, the country would be put behind by another 10 years.

This, he added, would destroy the country.

"It is not impossible that the Arab Spring may take place if we do not respect the authority administering the country.

"It may happen. If this happens, our country will not be peaceful and its economic growth will be affected. We must safeguard this to ensure the Arab Spring will not happen here," he said.

Asked whether he was siding with the opposition, as he was with a non-governmental organisation (MyWatch), some leaders of which he admitted were with the opposition, Musa replied that he was politically neutral.

"I am only the patron and I only advise them on what is needed (to curb crime)," he said.