Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has retracted a news report on its website which heralded Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as a “war general” ( panglima perang ) for Muslims.
A posting on its website said the Ismaweb.net editorial board made the decision several hours after the news item was published.
“At a time when Muslims, who form the majority in Malaysia, are faced with numerous attacks, Najib who is supposedly the ‘war general’ remains quiet,” it decried.
Ismaweb cited the banning of Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik from delivering a lecture in Malacca on April 17 as the latest incident. The Muslim organisation backs Indian national Zakir who is on a speaking tour in Malaysia.
In a Twitter posting, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the organisers have been instructed to cancel the talk titled 'Similarities between Islam and Hinduism'.
Later, Khalid told Malaysiakini that another speaking engagement scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur on April 16 would also be called off .
Numerous NGOs and even MIC have protested against Zakir.
Earlier, Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi had described the prime minister as being a “war general” for the Muslims and therefore must keep numerous things secret.
“We have to support and celebrate the prime minister. Is it proper for us to bring down someone who has been entrusted with heading out war machinery?
“A war general is full of secrets, how can (this secrets) be revealed to all because our strength must be kept a secret,” the Umno supreme council member was quoted as saying.
On the RM2.6 billion donation issue, Aziz said the matter has been explained and should not be raised again.
“Actually, certain quarters are taking the opportunity to topple Najib,” he added.
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