KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — Authorities’ penchant for labelling Muslim groups as “extremist” contributed to a civil liberties lawyer blaming the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) for extremism, a hardline Islamist group said today.
In a post on its website today, the local chapter of Hizbut Tahir accused the Malaysian authorities of adopting the Western narrative that associated the term “extremism” with Muslims.
“Now, when the same label is applied to them, they get upset and get angry,” the group said, referring to Jakim and the police.
It added that laywer Eric Paulsen’s allegation that Jakim was spreading extremism through Friday sermons for Muslims was the perfect example of how Western powers had successfully indoctrinated the public into thinking all things Islam-related were negative.
“It is not too much to say that the government, the police and even religious authorities are the ones who have ‘scared’ people with the notion of extremism and it is widely known that the ‘extremist’ label is reserved for Muslims.
“Any individual, what more Islamic movements who fight for the faith, is not exempt from the extremist label,” the posting read.
It added that beyond taking action against Paulsen for his remark, authorities should refrain from using the “extremist” tag on others, especially Muslims.
Hizbut Tahir openly supports the establishment of an Islamic state to unify all Muslim countries.
Today, it said such a goal was often considered “extreme”, and claimed this was the result of an effective propaganda campaign by Western countries.
Police today released lawyer Paulsen after remanding him for two days to probe his post on Twitter that accused a federal Islamic agency of extremism.
Paulsen, the executive director of Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), said he is being investigated under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948, adding that police will hand the investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for them to decide whether to prosecute him.
Last Friday, Paulsen posted on Twitter a remark on the Malaysian Islamic Development Department that allegedly read: “Jakim is promoting extremism every Friday. Govt needs to address that if serious about extremism in Malaysia.”
In a response last Saturday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Paulsen together with DAP’s Kapar MP Ko Chung Sen will come for attention under the Sedition Act.
In his Twitter post, Khalid posted a picture of Paulsen with a text insert with the word “Biadap” (rude) in bold, red letters.
On Sunday, Paulsen retorted by questioning why Khalid initiated action against him and Ko based on demands from pro-Umno Internet users.
Paulsen is the first person this year to come for attention under the Sedition Act, following the government’s apparent crackdown last year on opposition politicians and civil society under the colonial-era law.
