By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — Perkasa Youth has warned Muslims against attending Bersih’s rally for free and fair elections on April 28 as it is led by Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan, whom it labelled the “anti-Christ for Muslims” and a “traitor” to the nation.
The wing’s chief, Irwan Fahmi Ideris, told The Malaysian Insider that the former Bar Council president has taken her fight too far, alleging that she was “again” showing clear disrespect to the country’s Muslims by staging this latest protest.
He vowed to “do whatever it takes to fight Ambiga”, repeatedly calling her a traitor to Muslims and the country.
“She supported Seksualiti Merdeka… and so many other issues, going against Islamic principles. I cannot accept it anymore. She is the anti-Christ for Muslims.
“I will fight to whatever extent… I am going to fight her. I do not care. I am not a politician, I have nothing to lose,” he said when contacted yesterday.
When pointed out, however, that national Malay literary icon Datuk A. Samad Said was also among Bersih’s top leaders, Irwan said the septuagenarian likely had specific issues with the government which he was unhappy about.
“Maybe there was something he could not get and so he does not agree with the government. But it is unfortunate that a person who is supposed to be a nationalist is behaving like this... is it patriotic to sit by the side of the road and protest?
“This is not the action of a smart person,” he said.
Irwan, however, said Perkasa was yet to formally decide on how to respond to Bersih’s latest protest plan.
During Bersih’s rally last July 9, Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali had at first announced a counter-protest by his followers on the same day but later reversed the decision and opted out of the tumultuous event.
Irwan said the group’s top leaders would soon meet to discuss their next course of action.
“But I want to condemn Ambiga for this event,” he said.
He also alleged that Bersih 3.0 could have been inspired by “foreign powers” with the intention to topple the present administration by demonising the Malays, the Malay Rulers and the Election Commission (EC).
“But I have said from before… if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is not satisfied, if they insist on claiming that the election is not free and fair, they should dissolve the state assemblies they currently have power over,” he said.
This, said Irwan, was because it was the same election system that saw PR rise to power in five states in Election 2008.
“So I hope that all Muslims in this country will stay true to their religion and stay away from Bersih 3.0 because it is led by someone who is not only a traitor to the country but also to Muslims,” he said.