UPDATED 11.59PM with Zulkifli's comments Anwar Ibrahim has openly conceded for the first time that PKR parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin has stepped over the line in lodging a police report against a colleague in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

He said Zulkifli, the MP for Kulim Bandar Bharu, had been given up to tomorrow to explain his actions to PKR.

NONE Speaking to reporters yesterday, Anwar said he has been “tolerant” of Zulkifli all this while and has allowed him to have his say, even when his views ran contrary to Pakatan’s stance on the practice of Islam or implementation of Syariah law.

 

“You must give some space… I know (there are certain) sentiments among (party members). But you cannot (issue an) ultimatum (that) we will sack him or that we cannot support (him),” said the PKR de facto leader.

 

However, he described Zulkifli’s police report last week against Khalid Samad, the PAS parliamentarian for Shah Alam, as having gone too far.

“I did give him some space, not that I agree with him. In fact, I did advise him in very strong terms that there are limits because of the sensitivities of our friends in the (Pakatan) leadership.

“I personally handled (the situation). (Although) some of my colleagues disapproved, I took a tolerant (and) fatherly attitude (to what he said). But this time around, after the repeated warnings, I have conveyed to him that (he has) transgressed the line.”

zulkifli noordin Zulkifli’s (left) explanation, if received in time, is likely to be discussed by the party’s political bureau at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

“He should have come to us… why couldn’t he bring it to the party leadership (saying) ‘I have strong reservations and I disagree with Khalid and therefore I am doing this’?” added Anwar.

 

“I take the matter seriously. I have written to him, saying that I regret this has happened, and I have requested him to come up with a full explanation.”

 

‘Gross abuse’

 

Anwar commented on the issue before addressing a ceramah (talk) in Hulu Kelang, as part of a PKR roadshow to clarify the circumstances surrounding his sodomy trial that begins on Feb 2.

NONE Zulkifli’s police report accused Khalid ( right ) of committing  “gross abuse against Islam and Islamic institutions in this country, and in Selangor particularly”.

He also labelled Khalid as “arrogant, conceited and… indifferent” to the views of others.

 

The complaint was based on Khalid’s views reported in Malaysiakini , urging a review of the 1988 Non-Islamic Religions (Restrictions on Propagation among Muslims) Enactment, saying this is “outdated and... (it) conflicts with efforts to propagate Islam”.

Khalid’s call was in connection with the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling lifting the ban on Catholic weekly Herald from using the word ‘Allah’ in its Malay-language edition. Like many Muslims, he is of the opinion that the word is not exclusive to Muslims.

Will not retract

Meanwhile, Bernama reports, Zulkifli says he will not retract a police report he lodged against Khalid despite being told to do so by Anwar.

Zulkifli said he would only do so if Khalid retracted statements he made that he (Zulkifli) deemed were insulting to Islam.

Zulkifli told this to the news agency when contacted about the matter tonight.