KUALA LUMPUR: PAS is free to hold a protest against the burning of the Quran in Sweden, but should not create chaos within the country, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister also said that Malaysia will not tolerate the burning of any holy book of any religion, as one should not kill or dehumanise in the name of freedom of speech.
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He also urged the people to express their disgust over the recent act of burning the Quran by Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan in front of the Turkiye Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
"We in Malaysia will not tolerate the burning of any holy book – be it the Quran, Bible or any other.
"There is no freedom to kill or dehumanise," he said at a book launch here on Thursday (Jan 26).
The book "Knowledge, Tradition and Civilisation: Essays in Honour of Professor Osman Bakar" was launched at the International institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation-International Islamic University Malaysia (Istac-IIUM) here.
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Anwar also said Wisma Putra had called up the Swedish Ambassador to convey Malaysia's displeasure at Paludan's actions.
He also called upon Malaysians to be wary of those who try to create disunity by abusing the name of Islam.
"While we are trying to educate the masses, we have a few (among us) who have the tendency to instigate in the name of Islam and attempt to provoke and cause discord.
"I appeal to the masses to protest and express their disgust but we must... do our utmost to ensure the message of the Quran is alive within us," he added.
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Later, after the event, Anwar said the government had acted early, even before PAS condemned Paludan's act, but the Islamist party was free to hold its protest.
"They have a right to do that. There is no issue with expressing their views... but not then create chaos in the country," he added.
PAS has scheduled a protest march from KLCC to the Swedish Embassy after Friday (Jan 27) prayers.
