Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has risen to the defence of PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu over his Bukit Kepong remark, hitting out instead at the Umno-owned media for attacking him.

Anwar said Mohammed Sabu should be given the opportunity to clarify his statement as being attacked without being given the chance to explain oneself should not be turned into a tradition.

NONE At this juncture, Anwar ( left ) said he wanted to hear Mohamed Sabu's (better known as Mat Sabu) explanation first before arriving at a conclusion on the issue.

He added that it is only fair and proper not to be 'duped' by the Umno media in portraying him as pro-Communist.

He stressed that Mat Sabu had merely expressed his views and the decent thing to do is allow him to clarify his remarks.

"Following his earlier speech, which I had seen in a video, it was unfortunate that the Umno media had resorted to this ‘game' during the Hari Raya season," he told reporters at a Hari Raya open house hosted by him and Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman in Kubang Semang yesterday.

He added that he had seen Mat Sabu's statement denying all the allegations against him.

"I know this issue is sensitive and the Malay community feels that many were sacrificed, but this is a historical fact," he said.

"If there are several interpretations, give people space to explain so that we can obtain the proper information," he added.

'Police,their families fought Communists'

mat sabu pc with salleh man 190811 Anwar was asked to respond to DAP national chief Karpal Singh's statement asking Mat Sabu (left) to retract his alleged comment on the 1950s Bukit Kepong incident .

Karpal said the incident should not be disputed and must be accepted as it had been historically documented that policemen and their family members fought the communist guerillas.

Meanwhile, Anwar said he was representing a generation, who since young, had been strongly against the communist movement and ideology.

However, this does not mean that the people should not be allowed the opportunity to discuss the issue or share differences of opinion, he added.

This also does not mean people should be punished for having differences of opinion, he stressed.

Anwar said there were friends who were for or against Communism with whom he had engaged in a series of discussions backed by historical facts and where different views were aired.

"(A strong position against the ideology) does not warrant a position that is so intolerant of ideas or different interpretation of other views," he said.

"I remember since my university days, I come from the time where the political ideology and thoughts were not in tune with the communist ideology," he added.

The cause of the furore

Here are excepts of what Mat Sabu said at a ceramah in Tasek Gelugor on Aug 21:

"When Merdeka is around the corner, there will be stories about Bukit Kepong. In Bukit Kepong, the police who died were British police.

"The ones who attacked Bukit Kepong were the real Independence fighters, the one who attacked Bukit Kepong was Mat Indra (Muhammad Indera). He was Malay but the history was hidden.

"Jins Shamsudin who produced the film is an Umno man. The Bukit Kepong story (by Jins) portrayed those who attacked as criminals, and heroes those who defended the police station. Actually, Mat Indera who led the operation was hanged".

The Malay version:

"Dekat nak merdeka nanti, siarlah cerita mengenai Bukit Kepong. Bukit Kepong ini, polis yang mati itu polis British. Hat (yang) serang Bukit Kepong itulah pejuang kemerdekaan yang sebenar, yang serang Bukit Kepong itu Mat Indera (Muhammad Indera). Dia Melayu tapi semua sejarah itu ditutup.

"Jins Shamsudin (Tan Sri) buat filem, Jins Shamsudin itu orang Umno. Cerita Bukit Kepong (yang dibuat Jins) hat serang itu pula penjahat, hero yang mempertahan balai polis. Padahal Mat Indera yang mengetuai operasi itu akhirnya dihukum gantung," katanya dalam ceramah itu.