Perkasa bashed for criticising Eminent Malays 
MalaysiaKini.com
Dec 15, 2014

Malaysians have hit back at Perkasa’s claim the "hundreds of eminent Malays" with it are "greater" than the 25 eminent Malays who called on moderate Malays to speak up against extremists by starting an online petition in solidarity with the 25.

Yesterday, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said at the right-wing group’s annual general meeting that he believes that its "hundreds of eminent Malays" were "greater" than the 25 eminent Malays who recently spoke out in favour of moderation.

The petition, which is available online at change.org for Malaysians from all races and walks of life to sign, will be delivered to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In the petition titled “I am #26” , the group seeks 500 signatures to show support to the 25 eminent Malays who urged Najib to show leadership in the face of intolerant voices, such as that of right-wing groups Isma and Perkasa, which have been festering for too long.

One of the signatories, Lyana Khairuddin from Kuala Lumpur, says in a posting that as a “concerned Malay, Muslim citizen of Malaysia” she wants Najib to review the syariah laws as these cause confusion in the legislation.

“These laws, which turn all manner of "sins" into crimes against the state, have led to confusion and dispute in both substance and provisions.

“They are in conflict with Islamic legal principles and constitute a violation of fundamental liberties and state intrusion into the private lives of citizens,” Lyana commented on the petition.

Assert your personal leadership, Najib told

She also pressed for Najib to increase “awareness of elected members of parliament and the public on the legal jurisdiction and substantive limits of the powers of the religious authorities and administration of Islamic laws in Malaysia”.

Najib, who is also the Umno president, should also look to “assert his personal leadership as well as appoint key leaders who will, in all fairness, champion open and coherent debate and discourse on the administration of Islamic laws in this country,” Lyana added.

The group of 25 prominent Malays, who included former top civil servants, judges, ambassadors and scholars, in a joint statement on Dec 7 called on moderate Malays to speak up and not let extremist and immoderate voices to represent the Malays.

The list included former Malaysian ambassador to the Netherlands Noor Farida Ariffin, former Health Ministry director-general Dr Ismail Merican, and former Bank Negara assistant governor Latifah Merican Chong. 

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