ACTIVIST Arun Dorasamy has urged Indians to boycott the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections in September in protest against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s participation in the conversion ceremony of an Indian youngster.

“The PM (Anwar) needs to be more moderate and consultative when it comes to issues on Indians and Hindus.

“Is it right for PM (Anwar) to participate in the ceremony? He should have abstained because he is a PM for all races and his biggest supporters are the non-Muslims,” Arun told The Malaysian Insight.

Arun said he is a supporter of Pakatan Harapan and is not asking Indians to vote for Perikatan Nasional in the by-elections.

“This instead is a protest against the PM. This is a sensitive issue.

“Before this we thought only religious authorities could (perform conversions), but it looks like now anyone can do it.

“We understand it is not illegal, but the PM could have avoided this situation.”

Arun, who is also the Indira Gandhi Action Team chairman, said he was called by police to give his statement after questioning Anwar’s role in the ceremony.

Recently, a video of Anwar teaching a man to recite two “kalimah shahadah” (Islamic declaration of faith) phrases went viral and attracted various reactions.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said an investigation has been opened into the owner of the Facebook account on which the clip was posted on August 18.

“The operator of the Facebook account was called to the Classified Crime Investigation Unit, Prosecution and Legal Division, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department for a statement yesterday.

“The investigation is being conducted under section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, section 504 of the penal code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said in a statement today. – August 23, 2023.