Malaysiakini.com （http://www.malaysiakini.com）
(1) Guan Eng to sue Utusan over inter-faith council report, 24 February 2009
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied a report in Utusan Malaysia today that the state had established an inter-faith council last year.
"These are lies...we have no such council," he told reporters in Parliament today.
He also added that he had instructed his lawyers to file a defamation suit against the Malay daily for carrying the untrue report.
"And if they have any evidence of us setting up such a council, then bring it to the court," he said.
Utusan Malaysia today published a front-page lead stating that the DAP-run government in Penang was insulting Islam with the setting up of the inter-faith council.
The daily quoted the Penang Islamic Council chief Shabudin Yahaya as saying that the inter-faith council must not be allowed to be established as it would place Islam on par with the other religions.
This, said Shabudin, was an insult to Islam.
The daily said that the inter-faith council was headed by Lim and three-Malay members as well.
(2) PAS backs Guan Eng, lodges report against Utusan, 25 February 2009
by Athi Veeranggan
The spate of police reports continues against Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president Shabudin Yahaya and Utusan Malaysia over a report on a non-existing Penang inter-faith council as PAS Tanjung division lodged a complaint at the Jalan Patani police station in George Town today.
In his report lodged at 2.30pm, the division chief, Yacoob Omar, has alleged that Shabudin and Utusan have misled the public with blatant lies in the report published in the daily yesterday.
Another Tanjung PAS leader, Rashidi Salim, accused Utusan and Shabudin of “playing with fire” by stirring up the religious sentiments of Malaysians.
In the report, Shabudin, the Barisan Nasional assemblyperson for Permatang Berangan, has allegedly described the setting up of the council by Penang’s DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat government “as an insult to Islam”.
Utusan quoted him as saying that the council must not be allowed to function, as it would place Islam on par with other religions practised in the country.
The daily’s report claimed that the inter-faith council is headed by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and three Malay members. Lim, who is also DAP secretary general, had vehemently denied that there is such a council.
Yacoob said Shabudin’s comments and the Utusan report amounted to defamation and could stir religious sentiments and lead to conflict.
“As far PAS is concerned, such a council does not exist.
“It’s an attempt to undermine the Pakatan state government led by Lim,” he stressed to newsmen after lodging the report.
Lim has instructed his lawyers to file a defamation suit against the Umno-owned daily, demanding damages and a public apology.
"If they have any evidence of us setting up such a council, then bring it to court.
'Playing with fire'
“I have lost patience with this. They have been pushing me to the wall all this while," said Lim, who is Bagan MP.
PAS Tanjung division welfare bureau chief Rashidi said Shabudin was “playing with fire” to cover up the on-going misappropriation and violation of Muslim endowments governed by MAINPP.
“The wrongdoing in MAINPP has earned the wrath of Penang Muslims. But Shabudin is diverting the attention by playing up a non-issue,” he said in a statement released at the Jalan Patani police station.
Claiming that Shabudin and Utusan have spread lies, he denied the Penang government had ever insulted Islam.
“It’s malicious and intended to pit people from all races and religions against each other.
“We demand the police to investigate both Utusan and Shabudin,” he insisted.
Lim’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik, who accompanied Yacoob, said he could comprehend the reasons behind Shabudin’s outcry against a non-existent council.
He recalled that there was no such outcry from Shabudin when the BN federal government set up a similar inter-faith council comprising Muslim and non-Muslim members.
“Shabudin is attempting to instill hatred among Malaysians when he said the DAP-run government had insulted and undermined Islam.
“It’s malicious,” said Ng, who is also the Komtar assemblyperson.
Yesterday Pakatan parliamentarians lodged a similar police report at Dangi Wangi police station.
(End)
