Khairy wants Suara Perkasa probed for inciting unrest

Khairy wants Suara Perkasa probed for inciting unrest (Update)
By LOH FOON FONG and NG SI HOOI

Published: Thursday July 1, 2010 MYT 2:33:00 PM
Updated: Thursday July 1, 2010 MYT 3:03:19 PM


KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin wants the Home Ministry to investigate Suara Perkasa, the newsletter of Malay rights group Perkasa, for inciting unrest.

The group, in the newsletter, has demanded that Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong be detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

"Asking for Ka Siong to be detained under the ISA is deliberately instigating (hatred) and the ministry should look into it," he said, adding that it was wrong to instigate with inflammatory articles.

Khairy told reporters at the Parliament lobby Thursday that while it was alright for Perkasa to fight for Malay rights, he did not agree with its methods.

On whether Perkasa leaders should be detained under the ISA instead, Khairy said he stood by his view that the the ISA be amended and hence, could not support the suggestion.

Suara Perkasa, to be launched Thursday, carries a front-page headline, "Tahan Ka Siong Bawah ISA" (Arrest Ka Siong under ISA), an online news portal reported.

The news portal, quoting Perkasa vice-president Dr Zubir Harun at a press conference, said the movement wanted the Government to arrest Dr Wee for allegedly saying Mara (scholarships) had to be reduced.

It was previously reported that Dr Wee had asked if the Mara scholarships would also be scrapped, as part of the Government's intention to do away with overseas scholarships offered by the Public Service Department (PSD).

Dr Wee has dismissed the allegation that he was questioning the special positions of the Malays.

Meanwhile, Dr Wee said he was not intimidated by Perkasa's call for him to resign or apologise.

"Why should I apologise? That is not the statement that I made. They make it an issue. I already explained it yet they play up the issue," he told reporters after chairing the MCA Youth wing's political bureau meeting at Wisma MCA here Thursday.

"The statement has been misinterpreted by certain quarters. They have their own agenda," he said.

He said MCA Youth stood firm on its call to the Government to continue giving PSD and Mara scholarships to deserving students.

"Our stand has never changed," he said.

Related Stories:
Maintain overseas undergrad scholarships, says Wee
MCA and MIC want PSD to retain overseas undergrad scholarships
PM: Scholarships for overseas undergraduate studies to be reduced
Perkasa: Arrest Ka Siong under ISA
Khairy defends Wee over bursaries