Penang bans Utusan from next state assembly

The Penang legislative assembly has barred Umno-owned Malay dailyUtusan Malaysia from covering the next sitting.

This was after the rights and privileges committee presented its argument that Utusan had published a false report.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled the resolution calling for the daily to be banned, further seeking an apology over the “fabricated report”.

This means that Utusan reporters will be barred from entering the House and lobby area for the duration of the ban. One of the reporters was seen leaving the assembly after the decision.

In its Nov 11 report last year, Utusan had quoted Shabuddin Yahaya (BN-Permatang Berangan) as saying that the cost of renovations amounted to RM1.5 million.

However, Shahabudin denied making the comment when asked during the November sitting of the state assembly last year.

Last November, Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik had complained to the committee about Utusan's Nov 11 news report headlined 'Apa status kediaman rasmi Guan Eng?' (What is the status of Guan Eng's official residence?).

Ng, who is Lim's political secretary, filed the complaint under Section 109B of the Standing Orders.

Shahabudin's denial "is clear indication that this is a false report by Utusan which is always accusing and slandering the Pakatan Rakyat government to create confusion, so that the rakyat's (mind) can be twisted and distorted by its baseless news," Ng had said in his complaint.

The committee, headed by speaker Abdul Halim Hussein, met on Jan 26 and Feb 16 this year to deliberate the matter.

State Opposition Leader Azhar Ibrahim was not invited to attend as he was then under suspension for making a sedition comment related to the racial riots of May 13, 1969.

The committee concluded that the news report was insulting to the state assembly, and said it was regrettable that the newspaper failed to send its editorial head or a representative to the meeting.

The bipartisan committee comprises Tan Cheong Heng (DAP-Bagan Lallang), Lau Keng Ee (DAP-Pengkalan Kota), S Raveentharan (PKR-Batu Uban), Ong Chin Wen (PKR-Bukit Tengah) , Zabariah Wahab, RSN Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima), Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Ayer Tawar), Jasmin Mohamed (BN-Sungai Dua) and Shabuddin Yahaya (BN-Permatang Berangan).

- Malaysiakini