Perkasa wants to debate Group of 25 Eminent Malays

(FMT) – Perkasa, the Malay NGO in the fringe, wants to debate the Group of 25 Eminent Malays on matters related to Islam.

Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali who issued the dare on Friday claims that his NGO can also find 25 Eminent Malays to debate with the Group, who according to him, “claim to be experts in religion”.

“I am only offering to discuss,” said Ibrahim on the sidelines of a visit to JAWI. “If they have 25 people to debate, we can also send 25 people.”

He claimed to be responding to the Group reportedly being unwilling to meet with anyone including Jakim, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department.

He added that the Group must not touch on matters which will touch on the feelings of Muslims and result in the ummah being divided. He did not get into specifics on his accusation.

“They should know that from the Islamic perspective, mistakes in even small matters can result in something negative for the country,” he said in evoking further mystery.

Jakim Public Relations Officer, Asiah Alkharib Shah, has since issued a statement that the Group has indicated that they have no plans to meet with anyone including his department.

Earlier, Jakim invited the Group to a dialogue.

It cannot be that the Group, based on their December 8 Open Letter, wants to debate Islamic matters.

The thrust of its Open Letter was that the secular Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land and that there must be firm leadership on the matter.

The Group, all former high-ranking civil servants, also expressed dismay over the worsening polarization in the country amidst attempts at creeping Islamisation and creeping desecularisation.