Perkasa wants ISA crackdown in online Islam slurs
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Malay rights group Perkasa yesterday urged the government to crack down on web users who allegedly insulted Islam, by detaining them under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali claimed the law — which allows for detention without trial — was the best method in preventing religious tension from escalating, adding that investigations by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) were not sufficiently prompt and may not result in successful prosecutions.
“ISA is quick and can prevent situations from getting worse when people act according to their emotions,” said Ibrahim in a statement yesterday.
“An investigation by the MCMC is time-consuming. It is not easy to take action through court. So ISA is the best method,” he added.
The Pasir Mas MP then criticised the Najib administration for issuing warnings but falling short of decisive action on offenders, saying that such empty threats would not deter people from insulting Islam.
“The government should stop giving warnings threatening stern punishment but fail to back those warnings with action,” said Ibrahim.
