KUALA LUMPUR: A human rights group today said it was dangerous to let politicians baselessly carry on the narrative that the religion is under attack, and urged for key persons making inciting or instigating statements to be investigated.
Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek called for all those who incited or instigated the public to face the full force of the law, urging action to prevent a recurrence of the events of past weeks, and to demonstrate that no one is above the law.
He said there was a long history of politicians using religious or racial issues for political gain in the country.
"Aren't we all sick of it? Will the PH-led Madani government tolerate this just like previous governments did?
"It is dangerous to let politicians baselessly carry on the narrative that the religion is under attack. These kinds of statements from persons who have political standing and influence can have far-reaching impact on public order and tranquility."
Zaid said a statement yesterday by Criminal Investigations Department Director Mohd Zain who urged everyone, including politicians, to not incite racial sentiments regarding issue of the socks bearing the word 'Allah', had come late in the day.
"For weeks the statements of an inciting and inflammatory nature were made by politicians with little reaction from the authorities.
"Eventually, this resulted in a petrol bomb attack at a KK Mart store.
"The public and businesses were also put in fear due to artificial ratcheting up of tensions by politicians. The entire debate over the socks was pointless, superfluous and dangerous. No reasonable person in this country thinks that this incident was anything but a supply error on the part of the business implicated.
"Having called for calm, are the police going to do the right thing and probe those who created the tense situation by framing the issue as an attack on Islam? Or do the culprits who turned the country upside down for a fortnight get away with it?
"It is public knowledge that a key person responsible for the build-up of tension was Umno Youth Chief, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who was relentless in playing up the issue, even after the business had made public apologies and criminal charges had been brought against them. There may be others involved as well."
"It does not matter if the person responsible comes from a government political party. All responsible must face the law.
"Potential offences have been committed under section 505 (b) and (c) of the Penal Code for making statements that can cause fear or alarm to any section of the public and cause disturbance against public order or which incites one community against another community.
"The nation cannot move past this issue unless those responsible face justice," he said.