Negative comments on Hudud can provoke IS reaction - IGP

The Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has reminded the public to be careful when commenting on the social media about Islam and the hudud law in Malaysia as it could provoke a reaction from the IS militant group.

He said the IS could react in various ways which could threaten national security as they were sensitive in matters relating to Islam and Islamic law.

"The public should immediately stop making negative public comments as these could invite a reaction from the IS. I do not want what happened in France to also happen in our country," he told a press conference after chairing the Conference of Police Commissioners, State Police Chiefs, Police Commanders and Commandants at the Royal Malaysia Police College, Tuesday.

Last Feb, the IS threatened it would carry out attacks in France and sent out video invitations to French Muslims to create a new government.

Khalid said open discussions on Islam and comparing the hudud law with the national constitution could also invite other people's anger.

The IGP also said the police continued to look for ways to curb the IS teachings that had spread to this country.

"The police are still working to find the best way to curb efforts to influence our youth and people into joining the IS.

"We know IS's capabilities and the police will keep the public informed of the number of Malaysians now in Syria together with the people of more than 40 other nations, supposedly performing the jihad there," he said.

He also expressed his worry over the number of Malaysians who were IS members and had sneaked back into this country.

In a separate development , Khalid said police were not biased in its investigation into any individual who made racist statements in the country.

He said the police had summoned political personalities whether from government parties or opposition, including Baling Wanita Umno Head Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim and Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding their comments which were allegedly racist.

"We have never conducted interviews on the telephone as some people claimed, but instead they were called in to give their statements, just like other individuals who were detained before this," Khalid said.

Several leaders of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had earlier questioned the police for allegedly taking action only against Pakatan Rakyat leaders and not Umno members who made racist remarks.

In Dec last year, Mashitah gave a statement at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters regarding her comments on the issue of burning of the Quran. She had brought the matter up in her debate at the 2014 UMNO general assembly.

Ismail Sabri had also given a statement at the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Feb on his comments urging the public to boycott Chinese traders following the increase in the price of goods.