Zero tolerance for acts of incitement, says Anwar

The government will not tolerate any attempts to incite the people to cause divisions among the races, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said he was not afraid and was open to criticism, but that inciting the public to create conflict in the country's multiracial society was not acceptable.

"I do not agree that the Sedition Act should be used against those who criticise the prime minister and the government, but we will not tolerate anyone who tries to incite or slander to the point of touching on the 3R issues (rulers, race, religion)... let the police take action.

"You can criticise anything and anyone... but if you use sentiments, incite the Malays to hate the Chinese, incite people to use religion to accuse others of infidelity... I stress that I will not tolerate it," he added at the Madani Unity ceramah in conjunction with the Pulai parliamentary by-election at Taman Uda Utama, Perling, last night.

The event was also attended by Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Pulai parliamentary seat, Suhaizan Kaiat.

Anwar, who is also PH chairman, said the people must reject parties that only play up politics of hatred and extremism.

He said they rely on the sentiment that DAP is preventing the government from helping the people, especially the Malays, whereas DAP had always supported all initiatives for the people regardless of race.

"DAP is with PH. If DAP rejects the Federal Constitution, we (PH) will fight it (DAP), if it does not accept Islam as the federal religion, we will oppose… but instead, they accept," he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government would continue to govern the country based on the Madani Economy to safeguard the welfare of the people, even if the initiatives introduced are rejected or belittled by the opposition.

"Because we made these changes (policies and initiatives to help the people) they (the opposition) can't stand it... they want to say that we (the government) are not doing our work, when they know we are doing it.

"They can continue to dream of taking over the federal government, at a time when the unity government continues to work to save the country and the people with the Madami Economy (framework)," he said.

Anwar also said that the government would prevail for the full term based on the performance of the economy and the influx of new foreign investments into the country.

He said the success achieved in over eight months since the formation of the government was the result of the focus and energy of all parties involved.

The by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat follow unexpected vacancies due to the death of the incumbent Salahuddin Ayub, who was also the domestic trade and cost of living minister, on July 23.

The by-elections will be held simultaneously with early voting on Sept 5, followed by polling day on Sept 9.