ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob will not retract his statement on Umno and PAS waging a “jihad” (holy war) to overthrow Pakatan Harapan, after Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng gave him 24 hours to do so. 

The Umno vice-president maintains that the term “jihad” meant struggle for good things and was not linked to war. 

“They say when Umno-PAS work together, they are trying to create a Taliban-style government which is government based on extremism,” the opposition leader told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Fighting for good causes, such as the economy and education, is also considered jihad, he said.

The former rural and regional development minister said there are certain quarters whose understanding of Islam is poor and these are creating fear by linking the religion to extremism.

Ismail said Umno and PAS will protect the interest of all Malaysians, regardless of creed and religion. 

“We will not sideline other races,” he said.

Lim yesterday promised police action if Ismail failed to retract his statement on Putrajaya being led by DAP and is an anti-Malay and anti-Islam government.

Commenting on the recent spate of cases where individuals charged with inciting hate on social media, Ismail Sabri said the government should not restrict freedom of speech. 

“If this government insists of restricting freedom of speech… then the current government is worse than the previous one.

“During our time in office there were even pickets on a regular basis.”

Meanwhile, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham took a dig at Ismail Sabri, whom he said lacked credibility. 

Referring to 2016 court case between the two, Ngeh  said Ismail Sabri admitted in court that he had defamed the former and DAP is not an anti-Islam nor anti-Malay party. 

Ngeh said Ismail has yet to learn his lesson even after paying RM80,000 in damages. 

Ngeh added that the Umno-PAS union will only divide the people. – April 2, 2019.