Malaysia AGC defends decision not to charge Perkasa chief for Bible-burning threat
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) confirmed today (Oct 27) it has closed its books on Mr Ibrahim Ali’s case, saying it cannot prosecute the Perkasa president for threatening to torch bibles as he was only defending the sanctity of Islam and had not meant to incite anyone to religious frenzy.
In this photo taken July 19, 2013, Mr Ibrahim Ali argues with a police as he tries to hand in a statement in protest of Archbishop Joseph Marino, the Vatican's first envoy to Malaysia, outside its embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters file photo
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) confirmed today (Oct 27) it has closed its books on Mr Ibrahim Ali’s case, saying it cannot prosecute the Perkasa president for threatening to torch bibles as he was only defending the sanctity of Islam and had not meant to incite anyone to religious frenzy.
In a statement, the AGC also said Mr Ibrahim’s remarks failed to qualify for action under the Sedition Act 1948 as it lacked a “seditious tendency”, the basic criterion needed for prosecution.
“Clearly, Datuk Ibrahim Ali had not intended to incite a religious commotion but only to defend the sanctity of Islam,” the AGC said.
It stressed that Mr Ibrahim’s statement had been made in the context of reports of Malay-language bibles being distributed at a secondary school in Penang.
“When looked at the context in its totality Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s statement was not seditious,” added the statement.
The public prosecutor said it could not press criminal charges against the former federal lawmaker as Mr Ibrahim clearly had no intent to create any religious provocation.
“Elements under Section 504 of the Penal Code cannot be fulfilled because Datuk Ibrahim Ali had no intention to insult or cause provocation, which could disturb the peace.
“There is also no offence under section 298 or 298A of the Penal Code because Datuk Ibrahim Ali was defending the sanctity of Islam,” the statement said. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE