Kuantan: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today addressed the allegations that the government had been unresponsive to an incident involving the desecration of the Quran, describing such claims as unfounded. He confirmed that the authorities are undertaking a comprehensive investigation in line with existing legal frameworks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the prime minister emphasized the importance of adhering to the rule of law in the country, advocating that actions should be determined by legal due process rather than emotional reactions or social media narratives. "This country is governed by the rule of law, not emotion and speculation," he asserted in a recent statement.

In his remarks, Anwar called upon all parties to allow the authorities to handle the matter and to avoid making speculative statements that could disrupt public harmony. The incident reportedly involves a Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) student who has been remanded to aid investigations concerning an alleged insult to Islam after stepping on the Quran.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman stated that the investigation papers for the case have been completed. Meanwhile, Kuantan police chief ACP Ashari Abu Samah announced that the 21-year-old's remand, originally set to conclude today, has been extended until March 3, following directives from the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) for additional actions necessary to complete the investigation.

In a related context, Prime Minister Anwar had previously highlighted, in January 2023, Malaysia's intolerance towards acts of burning religious texts, including the Quran, Bible, and Hindu scriptures. He referenced the actions of Swedish-Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, who burned a copy of the Quran in Sweden, condemning it and pointing out the broader global issues of misunderstanding and prejudice against various religions, including Islam. In response to the Sweden incident, Malaysia distributed one million copies of the Quran globally.