BANGI, Nov 7 ― Accused of racism and extremism, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) yesterday said the non-Malays within its ranks showed that the group championed Islam above racial concerns.

Isma ulama council chief Aznan Hasan also added that the group’s perceived slant towards Malays was only coincidental as the country’s most dominant ethnic community also made up the largest section of the country’s Muslims.

“Isma, from before, now and forever, its basis and foundation is fighting for Islam,” he told a 300-odd crowd during a forum last night.

“Just that when looking at current realities, we believe, Malays that are the majority is interpreted as Muslims has a big role to colour this country according to the true flavour of Islam. But to say that we prioritise Malays above all, that is not true,” Aznan added later.

He acknowledged Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman's sedition charge over a remark calling the non-Malays here “intruders”, but said he cannot elaborate on it as it was still before the courts.

In the same forum, Aznan dismissed claims that Isma was “extremist”, but did not elaborate further.

He lamented, however, that the public were relying on news reports of Isma's statements, suggesting that the failure of the public to refer to the Isma’s own website and over-reliance of such “secondary sources” could have contributed to the view that the group was an “extremist” group.

“The media twisted the facts until people think so,” he said.

Aznan also insisted that Isma has never rejected engaging with any groups.

Earlier in the forum titled “Civil movement and the position of Islam” organised by Isma-linked group Arus Baru, however, Aznan indicated that it would be futile to engage with Sisters in Islam (SIS) as they would both continue on their paths after engagement.

Isma is among increasingly prominent Muslim groups that are seen championing Islam as a euphemism for racial politics.

Since the so-called political tsunami of Election 2008, race-based politics has gradually waned but found a new lease on life under the auspices of Islamic-centred groups.

This is facilitated by the ethnoreligious identity of the Malays, which is inexorably tied to Islam by dint of the constitutional wording that describes Malays as Muslims.