3R issue: ‘Don’t play victim if taken action’ – Saifuddin

GEORGETOWN - Leaders of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) are advised not to play the victim if they face police action for exploiting the sensitive 3Rs (race, religion, and royalty) issue during campaigning for the state elections in six states.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that this matter had been repeatedly reminded by the royal institutions and the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain who urged all participating parties not to use the 3R issue throughout the campaign period.

"When action is taken against them, they claim to be victims. They say there is no freedom of speech in Malaysia.

"So, once again, we reiterate that there is no need to touch on these matters that have been repeatedly warned by the authorities or royal institutions," he said during a press conference at the Charity Dinner with Leaders organized by the Cultural and Social Welfare Organization of the Indian Community in Penang on Thursday night.

Additionally, Saifuddin stated that the action of the Perikatan Nasional Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who touched on the 3R issue during an event in Kapar, Selangor, was identified as a high-profile case.

This was because, according to him, Muhyiddin mentioned a court case which involved the use of the word Allah.

"The Sultan of Selangor had previously ordered that the issue should not be discussed until it is deliberated at the Conference of Rulers, but Muhyiddin was found to have defied the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, who is also the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Chairman.

"The people can judge, if they can't even follow the advice of His Highness, then whose advice will they listen to?" he questioned.

Previously, a portal reported that Muhyiddin claimed that the unity government was actually administered by 'non-Malays' following the lack of appeal in court regarding the issue of the word Allah.

While carrying out his duties as Home Minister, Muhyiddin also claimed to have received pressure from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to not file an appeal.

Last May, the media reported that the Home Ministry and the Malaysian government withdrew their appeal against the High Court's decision that Christians can use the word Allah and three Arabic words, namely Baitullah, kaabah, and solat, in the publication of their religious materials for educational purposes.

On a related matter, Saifuddin, who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general advised protesters not to engage in treacherous acts against campaign materials such as billboards during this campaign period.

Expressing his displeasure with such incidents, he said that such issues should not occur as the people are more educated and knowledgeable compared to the politics of the 60s or 70s.

"Therefore, I advise all protesters not to repeat their actions as it is not conducive to the new political culture in our country now," he added.