Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim slammed the authorities today for defending Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali's threat to burn the Bible by claiming that it was meant to defend Islam.

Anwar stressed that Islam would never condone any such behaviour.

"It is just, I should say, the Umno position or the minister's position. It (burning the Bible) has never been condoned or tolerated (in Islam).

"In fact, my understanding of Islam is we must respect all religious beliefs and of course, religious texts," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby this morning.

Anwar was responding to the parliamentary written reply by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri yesterday, in which she said there was no prosecution against Ibrahim as he did not mean to cause religious disharmony but was merely defending Islam.

The opposition leader described this as “plain irresponsibility” and an “abdication” of duty by the authorities.

Anwar added that while he was not in favour of Ibrahim being charged under the Sedition Act, inaction against the right-wing group leader was a stark contrast to the series of sedition charges against opposition leaders.

“You get people who are deemed to be immune to the legal process.

“I do not - as a matter of principle - support any action against either Pakatan, Umno or BN for sedition.

“But notwithstanding that, there should be consistency,” he said.

Ibrahim had in January last year threatened to burn copies of the Bible which are published in the Malay-language and carry the word ‘Allah’ in reference to God.

He had claimed the use of the word ‘Allah’ by a Christian publication would confuse Muslims.

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