‘Kafir harbi’ statement seditious, says council

PETALING JAYA: The Pahang mufti’s statement categorising certain political parties as kafir harbi is seditious in nature, said the Council of Churches.

It said it was surprised that the police did not plan to investigate the mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman, for making the remarks.

“It is to date one of the most divisive and provocative statements made by a state official, which creates suspicion and disunity in a multiracial society.

“It is surprising therefore that the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar) has made a statement that the police will not take action,” general secretary Reverend Dr Hermen Shastri said in a statement yesterday.

Expressing the churches’ alarm over the remarks, Hermen said the authorities’ stand was inconsistent with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s moderation agenda and the country’s zero tolerance for extremism.

He said this would not inspire confi­dence that all Malaysians had equal protection under the law.

“The time has come for ministers, mentris besar and chief ministers to stand up and declare their distaste for such statements from paid officials of the state,” he added.