PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has urged all parties to remain rational and "cool" in light of an alleged threat to torch copies of the Bahasa Malaysia bible in Penang on Sunday.

He said he has personally spoken to Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who had allegedly called for the Malay version of the Bible containing the word "Allah" and Jawi script to be burnt.

"Perkasa has denied things which has been gembar-gemburkan (hyped up).

"In this political climate and with the general election looming, many baseless accusations will be thrown around.

"I urge all of us to be rational and to remain cool so to not ruin the harmony in our society," Hishammuddin said in a press conference at his office Friday.

Ibrahim had been called in for questioning by the Penang police Thursday, after several reports were lodged against him over the matter.

Penang deputy police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar confirmed that the case was being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person, as well as the Sedition Act.

Hishammuddin also pleaded with the public to not pre-judge two other cases, namely the ongoing royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah and the death of C. Sugumar, 40, a security guard who had ran amok in Kajang on Thursday and reportedly died of a heart attack.

"A total of 160 witnesses will be called to the RCI and we have only been through one week of the hearing, so let's not make any judgment now.

"(As for Sugumar's case), if there is any impropriety or any (police) officers involved (in Sugumar's death), they will not be immune from the law," he stressed.

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Security guard dies after going amok at cemetery
Ibrahim Ali quizzed by cops over Bible-burning remark
Wait for RCI outcome, say Sabah leaders
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