KUALA LUMPUR, 4 SEPT, 2010: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today no one can escape prosecution for insulting any religion practised in the country.

He said the government viewed the matter seriously as it could incite anger in the people and disrupt racial harmony and security.

“We cannot allow anyone, whether the individual is a Muslim or non-Muslim, to belittle any religion,” he said when asked to comment on an insult to Islam in an account of the Facebook social website.

Gerakan Pemuda Prihatin Putrajaya (Gempur) lodged a police report yesterday against a Facebook account in the name of a woman which allegedly insulted Islam and “Allah” (God).

It is the latest case touching on racial sensitivities. On Sept 1, the Federation of Peninsula Malay Students Associations (GPMS) made a police report on a Facebook account bearing a name insulting to Malays.

Recently, Wee Meng Chee of Muar, who goes by the popular name of Namewee, stirred up a controversy by airing a video clip smacking of racism.

Muhyiddin said that though these “attacks” were carried out on the Internet, he was sure there were ways to prove the identity of the perpetrators.

“Such matters should not arise because we have been living in peace and harmony for a long time with mutual respect for one another’s religion. Why should people of one religion insult another?” he said, adding that he hoped that the authorities would act firmly on the reports before the matter became a major problem.

Asked about the action to be taken against the principal of a Johor school said to have used racist remarks on students, Muhyiddin said he left it to the relevant authorities to deal with the matter.
“I believe there are suitable instruments that can be used,” he said.
Yesterday, Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah said the investigation paper on the matter would be submitted to the Disciplinary Board of the Prime Minister’s Department after Aidilfitri.