Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim denies ordering police crackdown on critics of PM, government

Anwar says investigations guided by Malay royal rulers’ instruction to tone down racial sentiments, religious extremism following divisive general election

PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang summoned for questioning after several police reports lodged against him

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia/Handout via Xinhua

Published: 8:56pm, 5 Dec 2022Updated: 9:00pm, 5 Dec 2022

Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday said he did not order police to investigate his critics for challenging him and his administration, as authorities hauled up at least one of his rivals for questioning in an apparent crackdown on incendiary comments in the aftermath of a deeply divisive general election.

Racial and religiously tinged rhetoric and content spread on social media in the weeks leading to the November 19 election. Much of it was aimed at convincing the majority Malay-Muslim voters that they risked losing their status and privileges to the minority ethnic Chinese and non-Malay community if Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition were to form the government.

Anwar said whatever investigations launched by police and other enforcement agencies were guided by the recent statement from the Malay royal rulers, who called on all Malaysians to avoid playing up racial sentiments and religious extremism.

“The instruction came from the Malay rulers, to abide by the spirit of the constitution. This cannot be equated to (a crackdown on) criticism of the prime minister or of the government,” Anwar said after chairing his first cabinet meeting.

“I even informed the inspector-general of police that criticism of the prime minister or government, in a democratic system, is allowed. Likewise, I will use the (democratic) space to respond as and when necessary.”

Police had summoned Abdul Hadi Awang, president of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), for questioning on Monday, after several police reports were lodged against the senior cleric.

It was unclear what the complaints against Abdul Hadi were about, though his lawyers said he was being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code, which covers statements that could cause public mischief, and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act for communications intended to threaten or harass an individual.

“I gave my full cooperation … it looks like this government is very proactive. I ask that they also expedite investigations on others in PH who touched on Muslim matters,” Abdul Hadi said after the questioning.