By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Perkasa Youth has claimed that Bersih 2.0 leaders are making use of national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said to draw more Muslims and students to its rally this April 28.
The wing’s chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris said the elderly Samad, or Pak Samad as he is more popularly known, has become a traitor like his Bersih 2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, warning the 76-year-old against sacrificing his faith for the sake of one woman’s cause.
“Samad Said, don’t be a traitor to the nation. It is very clear who is Ambiga... I stand strong in my conviction that she is anti-Muslim,” Irwan said in a phone call to The Malaysian Insider yesterday.
The youth leader had yesterday warned Muslims away from attending Bersih’s third rally for free and fair elections on April 28, claiming that the event was being led by “the anti-Christ for Muslims” and a “traitor to the nation”.
He had also criticised Samad for his involvement, saying it was “unfortunate” that a man considered a national icon in the field of arts and literature was not behaving intelligently.
“Don’t you dare try to get our students involved, Samad Said. Don’t you become a traitor,” Irwan warned the elderly poet again.
“You are a Muslim. You have to show that you are not supporting Ambiga. You should be protecting Islam.
“Do not split the Malays even further... today, you have Malays in support of PAS, PKR, Umno... stop splitting them for selfish gains.”
He said Ambiga’s open support for issues that are purportedly anti-Islam such as the recent Seksualiti Merdeka festival was a clear indication that she had no respect for Islam.
“Seksualiti Merdeka is not just against Muslim beliefs but also against Christianity. So it shows she is a traitor to the religion,” he said.
Irwan urged the Malay community to stay home on April 28 and exercise patience by waiting for the 13th general election if they truly wanted to show their displeasure with the government.
“Just wait for Parliament to be dissolved,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, Samad told The Malaysian Insider that the question of race or religion does not arise in the coming rally.
“They should see that Ambiga is not the only one in Bersih. If they see Ambiga as someone from a different religion who they must fight against, then am I, as a Muslim, also to be fought against?
“Anyone can help improve democracy, whether Christian of Muslim,” he had said.
Bersih 2.0 announced on Wednesday its plan to hold a third rally for free and fair elections, insisting that although the government had pledged reforms, its efforts have been insufficient.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds during Bersih’s rally last July 9 in chaotic scenes that saw over 1,000 arrests, scores injured and the death of one ex-soldier.
The government earned international condemnation for its crackdown, leading to enactment of the Peaceful Assembly Act last year and the formation of the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms.