Utusan insists not racist or lying

KUALA LUMPUR., Dec 21 — Utusan Malaysia was forced to defend itself today, saying that it was not racist and did not write false news reports, a day after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would sue the paper for defamation.

In an editorial today, the Umno mouthpiece said that it placed “importance” on unity and peace among all races in the country, but also admitted that it had been more “vocal” on Malay rights issues soon after the March 2008 general election.

“We admit that especially after the 2008 general election, Utusan has become more vocal with regards to Malay rights and Islamic issues. However our readers, especially non-Malay readers, have to understand that after the last general election, there have been too many attacks against the Malays as well as Islam. This includes issues on quotas, language, equity, the position of the King and also the sanctity of the word ‘Allah’.

“Although all these have been guaranteed under the Federal Constitution as Malay rights, but what’s obvious is that these issues are still being challenged today,” said the newspaper.

Utusan Malaysia insisted that it was a victim in the war of public perception, claiming that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had been unfairly portraying the paper as racist.

It stressed that its staunch defence of Malay rights was a “responsibility”, saying that there were “opportunists” out there consistently making the newspaper look bad.

“Look at how the DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng accuses the readers and fans ofUtusan as un-Malaysian for supposedly being extremist.

“This is the kind of unacceptable attitude of some politicians who attack us just because we report on the mismanagement of the state government as well as the crisis in opposition parties.

“Guan Eng should not expect the media to praise him especially since the Malays in Penang have been deprived of their rights. Time should not be wasted on him, but readers out there need to be more realistic in judging this paper and not get carried way by politicians fanning racial sentiments,” it said.

Utusan’s remarks today come shortly after the Penang CM said the paper had been printing “lies” about him and the state administration.

The Umno paper had yesterday accused the DAP today of being a tool of a foreign government and called for the party to be banned.

It featured remarks by Umno leaders who, among others, called the DAP the “king of racism”.

There was also an article entitled “Guan Eng’s rudeness” that listed Lim’s alleged anti-Malay acts.

Utusan claimed the Penang chief minister had banned a Maulidur Rasul procession, prevented Malay traders from participating in the Ramadan bazaar in Komtar and demolished various villages.

The Malay daily also alleged that Lim used gambling revenue to fund compassionate payments to senior citizens, some of whom were Muslims.

The newspaper also admitted today its business had been “affected” by PR’s anti-Utusan stance.

A tourism company had apparently refused an invitation to contribute articles to the Malay daily, saying that it “spread racial sentiments and wrote news that was not completely true.”

“Take your time, read the paper and understand what we are fighting for. If Utusan’s role is truly understood, then even our harshest critics would be loyal readers of Utusan Malaysia,” it said.