Three senior PAS leaders have condemned the Cheras Umno division for setting up a fund to help the Utusan Malaysia newspaper defend itself against multi-million libel suits, saying their intention had racial undertones.
PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said it was unbecoming for politicians to be defending newspapers that by virtue of ethics, was an independent organisation, a watchdog acting on behalf of society.
He wondered why Cheras Umno was going after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who was at the centre of allegations that she petitioned a mosque in Puchong to reduce the volume for azan (a call for prayers) as everyone named in the allegations, from Kok to the mosque committee, had denied this.
Yet Cheras Umno was pushing the issue without realising the sensitivities of race and religion, said Husam.
“This is unhealthy for a country with a strong multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition, it can lead to unsavoury tensions,” he said.
Husam was speaking at the Kota Baru PAS “Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” gathering at the state Chinese Chamber of Commerce where the guest of honour was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Kota Baru MP Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah who hosted the event said most inhabitants in the country particularly the Malays were descendents of migrants either from parts of the Malay archipelago or from the Yunan province in China with some later coming from India.
PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat urged Umno to come out with a fund to salvage Malays from following the secularism form of Islam that they imposed after learning from the British.
He said it was dangerous to use racism in an age where people are fighting for justice and equality around the world.
Lim who launched his book here about experiences of prison life to the early formative days of a DAP-dominated Penang Government, urged MCA and Gerakan to leave the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional.
My previous Sassy MP blog comments:
RM 30 million suit against the Utusan Melayu. Is it the beginning of the attack on the UMNO governing party? Certain people may look at this is an attempt to round up the indirect attack against the UMNO party which have indirect interest in this newspapers operation. RESULT = > Utusan Malaysia Issues Unsubtle Death Threat Against Teresa Kok, Defended by Rocky Bru
We believe in the freedom of press and expression of liberty in our expression as a journalist and as far as possible to express the truthful circumstances that have befallen the situation. At time opinion being generated in the column. Politic should not be a governing factor in the controlling of the freedom of press. But rather expression of the public so that the source of channel will be used by the people as a mean to express out their dissatisfaction.
That is why it is a conflict of interest to the journalism practice to have an investment share of certain political party to the body of press and journalism. Most politician want to have a mode of newspaper or other media like television and other mean of communication channel to suppress or influence their ideology of the political belief down toward and brain wash in certain degree of influence.
Unfortunately, with the wide spread of internet capability. No longer the other mode has been greater influence to the communion of nation at large, thus is being united with more liberation in communication within the national and international border.
But the truth is the absolute truth there is still no freedom, no liberation and no fully expression. Because at time the liberation on whatsoever perspective or angle in the respective point of view may bring destruction too…
Think about it?
Who can imagine this development 2 years back, PAS defending DAP from accusation from UMNO which carries the theme of defending Islam?
Anyway, there are much evidence that suggest Teresa is anything but anti-Islam.
She attended and hosted open houses, the masjid committee and even a redoubtable and staunch muslim blogger has come out to suggest that she is innocent. I have yet to hear and read any statement from her that she is anti-Islam.
On the other hand, Utusan Malaysia’s Pisa Tower-like leaning in their reporting stance is very clear. Come to think of it, if Pisa Towers leans as much as our esteemed newspaper, Italians will be looking at a horizontal engineering masterpiece.
The fact that UMNO has come out in force to defend Utusan Malaysia suggest the newspaper is of significant value to this political organisation, perhaps the official mouth piece of the party. As venture correctly pointed out, a good press is one that is objective, balance and gives equal coverage. The rigorous act by UMNO to raise $$$,albeit perfectly within their right to do so, provide strong evidence that to obtain balance and fair reporting, look elsewhere.
I written elsewhere that Teresa represents a different problem for UMNO – female, independent mind, strong willed, sharp tongue, intelligent, well supported (by different races) and a stalwart of Pakatan Rakyat.
She has attracted the bulk of attention hence the rest of the PR leaders are having more time to carry out their work.
Have anyone of you watch RTM 1’s 1.30 am news??
Goodness, i saw it once and i was totally disgusted by how racist the news was reported.
It was about the Perak’s pakatan government giving a 80% discount off the premium to landowners who converted their land from leasehold to freehold.
Rightfully speaking, it was really noble of them to do that all races benefitted from such move.
However, the news was reported in a way where the interviewees all voiced their diagreement over the policy with claims that the move only benefiteed the non Malays, pakatan government are not helping the malays, giving away malay land rights to the non malays….
Come on….. imagine if the rural folks were to watch such news…. it’s so loop sided and it’s no wonder if they felt so angry and upset over the non malays….
Can we bring RTM”s personally to court and put them under ISA for inciting hatred towards other races?
Sober heads from PAS leaders leading the charge to dampen the ambitious UMNO branch’s undertaking, designed to cause mischief and to gain political mileage. Utusan is desperate and using underhand tactics to get off the mess, they have created.
No, Teresa don’t let them off the hook. It is a matter of principle and to clear your good name, tainted by enemies of decency.
What is so enlightening is seeing PAS acknowledging the non-muslims are not their enemy but, a brother-in-arm. Slowly but surely, we get there…one happy family!
Influence and be influence is the key. Thank to the power of internet and freedom of multimedia on the internet subsequent press and liberty of people voicing out can be hear.
By right this should be happening to the newspaper, television media, radio, magazine and etc.
This will remain pure until it was corrupt by the political party thru acquisition of asset.
The freedom of democratic expression is only in the eyes of people no longer it is cover in the reality of news media nowadays.
=> illustration of comment as on above.
1. If husam knows that race and religion are sensitive, just simply avoid involving in those matters. That way is better.
2. Cikgu rahim cakap fasal sejarah orang Melayu? Dia bukan orang yang layak. Dia lulusan apa? Malu la sikit! Orang Melayu dari Yunan? Yunan ada silat ke? Ada keris ke? Jangan bodohkan diri sendiri!
3. N. Aziz nak cakap fasal Islam sdangkan dia sendiri membelakangi Quran? Islam apa? Islam suruh umat bersatu, dan tidak ada ruang untuk berselisih, tetapi dia pilih untuk berselisih! Betapa peningnya Nik Aziz ialah bila Melayu bela Melayu, maka Melayu jadi rasis? Guna ilmu mana pulak ni? Reti ke rasis tu apa?
4. I agreed that MCA and Gerakan leave UMNO, if they refused to subscribe to ketuanan Melayu.
5. If fact if DAP refused too, they can choose other nation to fare their politics.
Cheras UMNO and Utusan Malaysia: Birds of the same feathers flock together!
Teresa please go ahead and sue the garbage reporting UM and reporter till kingdom comes.
Just look at that bunch of idiots in Cheras Umno talked. This clearly proved that they are brainless and racialistics down to the core.
They have no sense of direction in life. Talking thru their nose without going thru their brains (actually i do not know they have or not). And behaving like they are above everybody. To the rakyat they are just a bunch of cowards and apportunists. Downright degrading and qualified to be thrown into garbage trucks.
They disgrace the malays by their actions and words.