By Aidila Razak
May 15, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said that he is willing to wage a crusade against the Christians if the community allegedly continues to challenge Islam’s position in the country.
“If they want a crusade, so be it. If they say that the peace that we enjoy is not good enough … we shall take up the challenge. Don’t take the silence of Muslims as a sign of fear,” he warned to cheers from about 150 people at a ceramah last night.
“Before our followers fall in this battle, (Perkasa) leaders will first lay down their lives and die sprawling in blood,” he thundered.
Speaking at a function organised by the Komuniti 1Malaysia group of Kampung Kerdas and Kampung Changkat in Gombak, Ibrahim accused the Christians of “challenging the sovereignty and dignity of Malays and Muslims.”
He was referring to the allegation that a group of pastors were plotting to make Christianity the official religion of the nation and appoint a Christian prime minister. This was reported last Saturday by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.
“This is an affront to the sovereignty of Muslims who are the majority… It started with race, and now it has gone to issues of religion. But when it comes to religion, it means jihad,” he said to hoots from the crowd.
According to the Pasir Mas parliamentarian, minorities are emboldened to challenge Malay and Muslim supremacy because they are encouraged by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is pandering for their votes.
“Many of the Christians in Malaysia are Chinese and many of the Christians (in the world) are American. Anwar is acting as a US mole. It all fits,” he said in his trademark fiery style.
But Ibrahim got it wrong – Bumiputera Christians make up the bulk of the community in Malaysia while Mexico has the highest number of Christians in the world.
Najib has to play the numbers game
The vocal politician added that minority groups in Malaysia are further encouraged by the support from Islamic party PAS through its spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and liberal Malays such as Bar Council constitutional law committee chief Shahredzan Johan.
“This is a matter of religion. Doesn’t he know how to protect his own religion?” he said, branding the Anwar-Nik Aziz-liberal Malay alliance as an unholy trinity of sorts.
The firebrand independent parliamentarian said that the fact that Malays are split in their political support has forced Prime Minister Najib Razak to pander to the minorities.
“He told me, ‘I understand that I have (to protect) the Malays, but I am also a politician … and BN has lost. If we don’t get at least 30 percent Chinese votes, we will lose again… The Malays are split (so) I have to play this game’,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim added that this shows even the PM has lost his bargaining power, and this has led to DAP, and BN partner MCA, to ply pressure on Umno on minority issues.
“We have no other alternative. For good or for bad, Umno is the only party that we have (to protect Malay interests), and we must care for the party,” he said before leading the crowd to chant ‘Hidup Melayu!’ (Long live Malays!).
The other guests of honour include Umno Gombak chief Abdul Rahman Kamaruddin, his deputy, Abdul Aziz Jantan, and division information chief Ismail Ahman.