PKR deputy secretary-general Bryan Ng Yih Miin has called on Barisan Nasional (BN) to explain its position following the controversy over a social media post by former coalition communications official Eric See-To involving a Quranic term.
Ng said religious beliefs and sacred texts should not be used as material for political ridicule, regardless of political differences.
The controversy erupted after See-To, also known as Lim Sian See, commented on the Arabic word “lighad” following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s presentation of Budget 2027 on Oct 9.
In a Facebook comment, See-To said he did not know the meaning of “lighad” before adding that “liwat”, the Malay term for sodomy, was not among the words mentioned.
The remark drew criticism from those who viewed it as mocking a Quranic term. “Lighad” appears in verse 18 of Surah al-Hashr, which calls on believers to consider what they have prepared for the future.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has since opened an investigation into the post under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
See-To has denied the allegations, saying he intended to lodge a police report over material he claimed had been edited and circulated with Quranic verses inserted into his Facebook post.
He said those responsible for creating and spreading the edited material should be investigated.
In a statement, Ng said criticism of government policies was part of democratic debate, but should focus on facts and arguments rather than belittling religious beliefs.
“If the content circulating was indeed produced as alleged, it would not merely be insensitive; it would reflect a failure to respect the beliefs of others,” he said.
Ng also questioned whether the alleged remarks were consistent with BN’s values, noting that See-To had reportedly served as the coalition’s deputy director of strategic communications.
He urged the coalition to make its position clear rather than remain silent over a controversy involving someone who had held a role within its communications machinery.
“Is such conduct consistent with the values and standards BN seeks to uphold in Malaysian politics?” he asked.
Ng said the issue was whether political parties were prepared to state that disrespect towards religion was unacceptable, regardless of who was responsible or which political figure was being targeted.
He added that any investigation must be conducted professionally, with decisions based on evidence and the law. Allegations should not be treated as established facts before the authorities complete their work.
Ng also warned against applying different standards when it came to religious sensitivities, saying respect for one faith must go hand in hand with respect for others.
“If we expect others to respect our beliefs, we must show the same respect for theirs,” he said.
“Unity cannot be preserved if religion continues to be used as a political weapon.” - October 12, 2026