RPK: Religious obligation to oppose tyranny, citizenry right to raise flaws in leadership

(Focus Malaysia) – FUGITIVE blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) has chided the action of the authorities to place him high on the wanted list of Dubai Move perpetrators by claiming that it is obligatory for every Muslim citizen to oppose tyranny that exists in the system of governance.

He insisted that upholding freedom of speech to disseminate truth is an obligation of all Muslims under the Islamic tenet of amar makruf nahi mungkar (enjoining good and preventing evil).

“As a Muslim citizen, it is obligatory for us to oppose leaders who are tyrants. Moreover, it’s our job as watchdog to raise awareness about tyranny, mistakes, crime, abuse of power or corruption involving leaders,” the self-exiled blogger justified in his latest video clip from his residence in Manchester, UK.

In this regard, RPK went on to rubbish what he deemed as a threat by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain who gave the impression as if he is the prime suspect in the Dubai Move conspiracy.

“This is sheer nonsense (karut) … I challenge Bukit Aman to verify with any ustaz (religious teacher) whether Muslims are obliged to oppose leaders who are tyrants and whether such obligation should be made unlawful,” the opposition-slant mercenary blogger hit out.

RPK was reacting to a recent statement by Razarudin that the police are currently investigating viral videos of three or four individuals who spoke about changing the government, including himself with at least 20 police reports having been lodged against him.

“We have opened an investigation under Section 124C of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 505B of the Penal Code” Razarudin had told a media conference in Bukit Aman on Tuesday (Jan 9).

“However, he is overseas. As I mentioned previously, we can only get the cooperation from foreign authorities (where he is at) if our laws are similar or in line with theirs – but it is not.”

“Sticking with Tun Musa Hitam and Hang Jebat”

Earlier, RPK delved on the stance of former deputy prime minister (DPM) Tun Musa Hitam who at the UMNO Kuala Nerus division meeting in Terengganu some 40 years ago spoke about the need for Malays to pick up the courage to be disobedient if needed to uphold justice and oppose tyranny along the spirit of raja adil raja disembah, raja zalim raja disanggah (literally, a just king is worshiped, a tyrant king is rebutted).

“However, this doesn’t mean that we’ve to stand up against the Malay rulers or to oppose the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA),” he quantified.

“This is merely to stress the need to uphold justice within the four branches of our government, namely executive (PM), legislation (lawmakers or Parliament), judiciary (implementation of law) and the monarchy system (royal institution).”

Recalling Hang Jebat’s ultimate battle with his once best buddy Hang Tuah, RPK admitted that he sided Hang Jebat who was willing to uphold justice despite being accused as a traitor because he was under the impression that Hang Tuah had been assassinated under the Sultan’s decree when the then Bendahara (Prime Minister equivalent) had actually hid him.

“Hang Jebat was very principled instead of being a boot licker to the Sultan while Hang Tuah is a portrayal of absolute yet blind loyalty,” asserted RPK. “I agree with both Musa and Hang Jebat that we’ve to rise against tyranny whether it is at the king or government level and wouldn’t mind emulating both their action.”