Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today said the alleged infiltration of communist and Jemaah Islamiah ideologies into Pakatan Rakyat is not at a level that would threaten the country’s security.

“Right now, I am saying that the reports that have come to me, whatever penetration (in the opposition) as far as ideology is concerned, it does not affect the security, safety and stability of our nation. So don’t make it more than that,” he told a press conference at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon.

hishammuddin hussein dang wangi police station pc 2Earlier, Hishammuddin had attended a two-hour-long briefing by police chiefs from Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya on bringing NGOs on board to combat crime.

Last Thursday, the Special Branch's  E2 (M) national social extremist threat division assistant director Mohd Sofian Md Makinuddin had claimed that the opposition was being infiltrated by terrorists and were trying to be fielded as candidates in the next general election.

Asked whether the police had any evidence on the claim, Hishammuddin replied: “If it concerns national security, it is not just evidence, action must be taken and it has to be transparent and open.

“But if it is just an observation concerning involvement that does not threaten national security at this stage, then I am not worried,” he said.
However, Hishammuddin said that he would need to go into detail of what the Special Branch meant by the infiltration.

He added that any forms of infiltration be it on Pakatan’s side or in his own party, action would be taken only if it threatened national security.

‘Infiltration claim no prelude to crackdown’

Hishammuddin also denied DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang’s claim that the allegation was to set the stage for a crackdown against the opposition.

hishammuddin hussein dang wangi police station 2“What the Special Branch said were merely facts and I would say if it does not affect national security then we do not see it as a threat, what political stage is there to set?

He also took a swipe at the veteran politician, saying that Lim was stuck in the old political landscape.

“What he said is not true... Some things existed in the previous political landscape but now it is different.

“Perhaps he is still in the old landscape during the time when he was young. I want to remind Lim that the world has changed,” he said.

Yesterday, several Pakatan leaders were up in arms over the allegation, challenging the Home Ministry to name the alleged communist and Jemaah Islamiah infiltrators in the coalition.