Isma chief to face sedition charge for ‘intruders’ remark against Chinese

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 ― Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman will be charged under the Sedition Act tomorrow for labelling Malaysian Chinese “intruders”.

In a report on its website, Abdullah Zaik said he had received a police warrant to appear at the Kajang Sessions Court tomorrow morning.

According to Abdullah Zaik, he was informed that he will be charged under Section 4(1) of the Act, which carries a maximum penalty of RM5,000 or a three-year prison term or both for first-time offenders.

On May 6, Abdullah Zaik claimed that the influx of Chinese migrants into pre-independence Tanah Melayu had been “a mistake” which must be rectified.

He went on to state that the ethnic group were considered “intruders” into “Malay land”, and had been brought by British colonialists to “oppress” and “bully” the Malays.

Infuriated by the remarks, lawmakers from both DAP and MCA filed police reports against the group.

The Islamist activist group has been raising its public profile over the past one year with its provocative remarks against Malaysia’s racial and religious minorities.

In a parliamentary reply last week, the Home Ministry disclosed that a total of 42 police reports were lodged against Abdullah Zaik's provocative remark as on May 29.

Abdullah Zaik said he will be represented by lawyer Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid from Lokman Reena & Co.