KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 ― DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang questioned today the truth in Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's claims that there are no extremist Muslims in Malaysia, pointing to evidence that strongly suggests the presence of Islamic militancy in the country.

The Gelang Patah MP said reports of the increasing number of arrests made on suspected militants and reports of Malaysian Muslims taking loans to fund their passage to fight with terrorist group the Islamic State in Syria, contradicted Muhyiddin's claims.

“If there are no extremists among Muslims in Malaysia, how come the Bukit Aman Special Counter Terrorism Division had arrested 51 persons suspected of being Malaysian militants.

“And why have Muslim Malaysians even gone to the extent of taking personal loans from banks and money-lenders to pay for their passage  to Syria to join Islamic State and  to fund their living expenses there, knowing that repayment of their loans is very slim?” Lim asked in a statement.

He also added that at least six Malaysians have been reported to have died in Syria and Iraq while fighting for the global militant group Islamic State (IS).

The federal opposition lawmaker said Muhyiddin's statement had also indirectly rendered invalid Putrajaya's efforts to promote moderation, arguing that if it was true Malaysia has no extremists, there was no point of setting up the Global Movement of Moderates mooted by rime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Is Muhyiddin also suggesting that Najib’s Global Movement of Moderates has no relevance, role or importance to Malaysia but only for the rest of the world?” he asked.

Lim then said Muhyiddin must be honest in accepting the reality that there are extremists among all races and religions, whether in Malaysia or in the international arena.

“The fact is that there are extremists among all races and religions, whether in Malaysia or in the international arena, people who are so bigoted with racial and religious hatred and intolerance that they pose serious threat to the future of Malaysia and even the world,” he said, and urged those who see themselves as moderate to unite to reclaim the country from vocal bigots.

Lim also criticised Muhyiddin for backing police action against human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen, who accused the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) of spreading religious extremism through its Friday prayer sermons.

Paulsen was arrested for sedition last night and is currently held under remand until tomorrow pending investigations.

Lim noted the arrest swiftly followed Muhyiddin's call for police action against the lawyer, and accused the police of excessive force when it sent 20 officers to apprehend Paulsen last night.

“Was it necessary for the Police to stage such a major show of force, when Paulsen had agreed yesterday to be in Bukit Aman to co-operate with police investigations?” Lim asked.

The Gelang Patah MP said Paulsen’s arrest under the Sedition Act highlighted the selectivity of law enforcement, following its failure to prosecute extremists seen close to the establishment.

“From selective police investigations to the Attorney-General’s selective prosecutions, which have given Malaysia a bad name in the world with regard to the  rule of law and the administration of justice in  Malaysia”.