Ismail Sabri on 'jihad' remark: Retract? Of course not!

KUALA LUMPUR: An unfazed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has refused to retract a statement that Umno and PAS are "waging jihad" against the Pakatan Harapan government.

Instead, the opposition leader fired back at Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, describing DAP as a party that is "prejudiced" against Islam.

"Of course not (in retracting statement). One thing we learnt from what happened, is that DAP has always been prejudiced against Islam.

"They have a very negative perception towards Islam," he said to reporters at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday (April 2).

On Monday (April 1), Lim issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Ismail Sabri to retract his remarks. Failing which, Lim said he would demand for the police to take action over the "malicious and seditious hate speech".

Ismail, who is Bera MP, reiterated that when he used the word "waging jihad", it simply meant "struggle" in his context.

"So, 'jihad' has nothing to do with war. Try to google it. If you don't read, just google the meaning of 'jihad'. (The meaning is) very clear. It means a struggle for a good cause."

According to Ismail Sabri, the ones who are harbouring fear among non-Muslims are the ones who have misinterpreted Islam.

"They frighten non-Muslims whenever Islam is linked with Taliban. They scare non-Muslims when 'jihad' is linked with waging war against others.

"So, the ones who are scaring non-Muslims isn't Umno or PAS. Umno and PAS have explained that when we are united, it is not only to take care of the interests of Muslims and Malays.

"In fact, it's also to take care of the interests of other races in the country. That is very clear," he said.

Ismail Sabri reportedly made the statement in Sabah Bernam on Sunday (March 31) during a joint Umno-PAS gathering.

He was quoted by The Malaysian Insight as saying that PAS and Umno are waging a "jihad" to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan government that is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.