Pakatan Rakyat leaders slam Umno over Penang 'khutbah' issue

Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders led by Anwar Ibrahim slammed Umno for accusing Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of replacing the King’s name with his own at khutbah Jumaat or Friday sermons in several state-run mosques.


"We are certain that Umno leaders will not stop here. They will come out with more lies to cause disunity amongst the public because they realise that the public are united in wanting change and justice,” Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement.

Indeed, the rumors were first raised by Penang Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin also weighed in on the issue, asking the authorities to investgate Guan Eng.

This despite repeated denials by the Penang state government and religious authorities.

"This desperate action is meant to create a rift between Pakatan Rakyat leaders and the Palace and to stir up the anger of the Malays, just like what happened in Johor with the banner issue bearing the Sultan's picture," said Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, the Penang executive councilor in charge of religious affairs.

Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang blamed Umno-owned daily Utusan for stoking racial tensions and chastised Prime Minister Najib Razak – who is the Umno president - for ignoring the wishes of the public for peace and harmony.

He also demanded an apology from Ahmad Zahid and Utusan for contradicting Najib's 1Malaysia plan.

“There must be a complete halt to recent series of irresponsible and crazy statements which are incitement of race and religion in the media or the country is heading in the direction very opposite to the 1Malaysia proclaimed by the Prime Minister,” Kit Siang said in his blog.

“National leaders must always remember that in the era of globalisation and information technology, the whole world is watching what is happening in the country.”