Islamist movement formed to ‘protect Malaysia’ from Negara-Ku, Comango

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Following the launch of the Negara-Ku coalition this week, Islamist website Arus Baru has announced the formation of a movement to “protect Malaysia” from “evil threats”.

Called Gerakan Lindungi Malaysia (GLM), which stands for Protect Malaysia Movement in Malay, it also singled out the now defunct Interfaith Council (IFC) and human rights lobby group Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) as other threats that it will seek to combat.

“Realising the evil threats and attempts by certain parties who want to ‘reclaim’ the country and the change the existing landscape, an initiative have been created by concerned Malaysians who are aware of the need for an organised effort to protect Malaysia.

“Therefore, based on that the GLM initiative is formed to protect the country from such threats,” said an update on Arus Baru’s Facebook page.

On Thursday Negara-Ku, which was launched by lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreneevasan and national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said, who were both previously co-chairmen of the electoral reform watchdog Bersih 2.0.

The two touted the group as a “people’s movement to reclaim the country”, and is endorsed by over 60 civil society groups and NGOs.

As part of its religious pledge, GLM warned “non-Muslim political parties” from interfering in Islamic matters.

GLM also vowed to stand against entertainment outlets, gaming centres, nightclubs and massage parlours as part of its social struggle.

In politics, GLM said it rejects any efforts towards racial equality, and the abolition of the special rights of the Malays and the Bumiputera community, and the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution.

It also pledged to prevent any party funded by foreign powers to change the local political landscape and sow chaos.

In media, GLM said it will fight against entertainment on TV and radio which promote negative and deviant cultures.

Arus Baru was formed prior to the 13th General Elections to lobby Muslims to voting only for only Muslim candidates.

Arus Baru professes to be independent and not an official outlet of any group, but it is widely-linked to controversial Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).