KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has hit out at critics of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for taking the ‘sumpah laknat’ religious oath at Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru here, on Friday.
In a 9-minute video posted on his social media page, Raja Petra, who lives in London, said many non-Muslims have made insensitive comments or outright mocked and teased Najib for simply attempting to clear his name of a murder accusation, in a house of God.
Najib, who took the oath after Friday prayers, was denying allegations that he had ordered the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu 13 years ago.
While taking the oath, the Pekan MP denied all claims recently made by former Special Task Force (UTK) officer, Azilah Hadri, in a Statutory Declaration (SD) implicating Najib in Altantuya’s murder.
Raja Petra praised Najib for his bravery in taking the oath, and slammed non-Muslims for their callous comments about the ‘sumpah laknat – a ritual considered sacred in Islam.
"If he wanted, he could have chosen to simply continue to deny all allegations, like some of the others do, but he didn't,” he said.
He stressed that in Islam, the 'sumpah laknat is the highest form of a promise that can be made to prove one’s point.
"Just because he took that oath, that doesn't mean he cannot be charged by the police with enough evidence. That is part of the investigation which will still go on.
“By right, Najib deserves to be praised for his action, because not all would be willing to take the 'sumpah laknat' in a mosque, as he did," Raja Petra added.
He said that the oath-taking ritual is regarded with great solemnity among Muslims, and lambasted non-Malays for making fun of it.
"While the Malays are still considerate in issues involving other races in the country, the non- Muslims clearly do not practice sensitivity when they make certain comments on religious beliefs.
'What’s worse is that the Pakatan Harapan government is not doing anything about this. The Malays and Muslims in PH are quiet when non-Muslims criticise Muslims and our beliefs," he said in the video.
Raja Petra went on to suggest that PH has a Malay majority for appearances’ sake only.
"Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed has already warned the Chinese that if they have an anti-Jawi protest, as proposed in Kajang, then the Malays will also protest against Chinese schools.
"And if this happens, we will see a repeat of Ops Lalang, when the Chinese and the Malays were 'fighting' against each other.
“Is PH trying to cause an ‘Ops Lalang 2’ by allowing these insensitive comments about Najib's oath to be made?" he said.
Whether Najib is telling the truth about the allegations in Azilah’s recent SD, only the Almighty and Najib would have the answer to that, Raja Petra said.
"However, at no time should… the beliefs of the majority Muslims be made fun off," he said.
Raja Petra added that if it were the other way around – a non-Muslim taking a sacred oath – Malaysia’s non-Muslims would not make a fuss over it.