Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Wednesday, 18^th May 2011:

Najib Razak refusal to act against Perkasa's extremism makes a mockery of his "moderation is the best course of action" speech at Oxford

It has been four days since Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali issued the blatantly seditious, incendiary and dangerous warning that he and other Perkasa leaders will wage a crusade against the Christians and even shed blood if Christians continue to challenge Islam's position in the country which is an allegation which has proven to be lies made-up by two pro-UMNO bloggers and propagated by UMNO rag Utusan Malaysia.

And yet to this day, Prime Minister Najib Razak, de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have taken no action against Ibrahim Ali. Even worse, they have made excuses for Ibrahim Ali's hate and fear-mongering which is even more dangerous. Despite proclaiming 1Malaysia to all and sundry, all three are willing to jeopardise the peace and harmony of Malaysia and endanger the lives of fellow Malaysians for the sake of lengthening their personal political careers.

Yesterday, Najib delivered a mockery of a speech at Oxford University where he called upon the world community to embrace moderation as the best course of action.

What beautiful words by his speechwriter, but how hollow they ring. Najib's words have no credibility because he has failed to match them with credible action. If Najib truly believed in moderation, he would have denounced Ibrahim Ali's remarks outright and stated that such threats have no place in his so-called 1Malaysia. At the same time, Najib would put a stop to his own party, UMNO, breeding, harbouring and protecting such extremists. It is well-known that most of Perkasa's membership consists of UMNO members.

In addition, Nazri Aziz stated yesterday that no action will be taken against Ibrahim Ali because his remarks are now a Malaysian norm. His reasoning is appalling and a betrayal of his duty as de facto law minister. Instead of upholding the law, he is making feeble excuses for allow offenders to continue breaking it. Only in Nazri's eyes is it the norm to make seditious statements in Malaysia.

As for Hishammuddin Hussein, he too accepts Ibrahim Ali's incendiary remarks. When Utusan Malaysia and the pro-UMNO bloggers published their wild allegations, he immediately ordered an investigation of the Christians but has taken no action whatsoever against Ibrahim Ali's proven seditious remarks. It is clear that Hishammuddin practices double standards in his duty of safeguarding the security of Malaysia.

In conclusion, Malaysians cannot count on Najib, Nazri and Hishammuddin or UMNO in total to check the extremism of Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa because UMNO is in tacit support of Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa. Thus, with UMNO leading the country, Perkasa will grow more and more extreme in their views and continue to exploit racial and religious insecurities to divide the nation, for their bigoted interests.

I urge Najib, Nazri and Hishammuddin to stop allowing religious and racial extremism to persist in Malaysia, stop endangering the lives of Malaysians and take immediate action against Ibrahim Ali by charging him for criminal intimidation under clause 506 of the Penal Code. They must place the peace and harmony of Malaysia above UMNO's selfish political survival.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, DAP National Organizing Secretary, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade & MP for Seputeh