Senator Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor has back-pedalled from his highly-charged attacks against newsportals on Friday, denying he had meant plans to “burn” them over the coverage of the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) and the controversy.
In tweets sent out today, the former opposition-turned-Umno-activist said there is no way to burn news publications in cyberspace, and claimed that what he meant was to “burn”Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider as they have “burned” the hearts of Muslims over the issue of apostasy.
“MK/MI portal news dialam siber.mcmana BAKAR alamsiber?x ancam bakar reporter/bangunan.ianya simbolik kemarahan terhdp mrk yg BAKAR hati umat,” (MK/MI (Malaysiakini/Malaysian Insider) are cyber news portals. No threat to burn (any) reporters/building. (The remarks) were only symbolic of the anger towards them for burning the hearts of the Muslim community),” tweeted the former aide to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
In an impassioned speech on Friday at a mosque in Shah Alam, Ezam had declared an “all-out war” against those who attacked the Islamic faith - including their “agents” such as Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, he accused of being “rude” towards the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).
Jais officials had on Aug 3 carried out an operation at the DUMC on the premise that it had received reports Muslims were being exposed to Christian proselytisation during a fundraiser organised by social welfare NGO.
While their proponents have pointed to 'evidence' of Islamic teachings being discussed by those in attendance - including 12 Muslims - detractors have decried the lack of proof otherwise of proselytisation.
The enforcement personnel had also failed to produce a search or arrest warrant, but had nevertheless 'raided' the premises for pamphlets, brochures and other materials.
Commenting on Ezam yesterday, PKR vice-president N Surendran said his remarks were "criminal" deserving of action by the authorities.
"We are appalled that a sitting member of the Dewan Negara has uttered such words and threatened publicly to carry out criminal acts.
"This is an outrageous threat to the property and offices of these two news portals; more seriously, it is also a threat of grievous harm or death against their staff, writers and other occupants," said Surendran (right) in a statement yesterday evening.
Weighing in on the issue, Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon said Ezam's threat of violence was "uncalled for, unwarranted and unacceptable".
"If he thinks that reports in the online news portals were not correct and proper, he should present cogent arguments against them, present relevant facts and solid evidence, or even take legal action," said Koh, who is also a senator.
"Unfortunately, instead of using his intellect and influence to argue and counter whatever he did not agree with, he allowed himself to be overtaken by emotions and sentiments which have evoked negative reaction of others."
Koh said his colleague in the Dewan Negara has not only tarnished his image as "a senator but also that of the organisations he represents".
"In the spirit of 1Malaysia, leaders must talk and act with a strong sense of responsibility and restraint and help to resolve any inter-ethnic and inter-religious misunderstanding, controversy or conflict, but not to add more fuel to the fire.
Responding to Koh (right) today, Ezam said Koh's comparison of his statements to the riots in London that have led to the destruction of property and casualties was bodoh.
“JGN ikut rentak PKR/konco buat perbandingan bodoh burndown/bakar Mkini/MInsider dgn London Riot.” (Don't follow PKR's tune in stupidly comparing the burning of Mkini/MInsider with the London riots).
Ezam also reminded “them”, “especially ministers” to protect the social harmony being currently enjoyed: “Kesan hati umat Islam yg diBAKAR kesannya amat besar pd perpaduan.bertindaklah sblm terlambat." (The end result of Muslims' sensitivities being burned are grave to communal harmony. Act before it's too late.)
Ezam, in the event held after Friday prayers two days ago, warned Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider with “a very last warning”: “Our warning is a serious one. If you do not stop this rubbish, we are going to burn you down!" Ezam declared.
Also present were Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Nordin and Umno Youth exco member Lokman Noor Adam.
Zulkifli, also a former ally of Anwar, echoed Ezam's warning, calling on Muslims working in the news portals to "repent".
“I see representatives from Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider here, I would like to tell them, particularly Muslims, to repent.
"You are being barua (running dogs) of propagandist and enemy of Islam. Don't be running dogs of kafirs (infidels) that go against us," he said. - Malaysiakini
In tweets sent out today, the former opposition-turned-Umno-activist said there is no way to burn news publications in cyberspace, and claimed that what he meant was to “burn”Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider as they have “burned” the hearts of Muslims over the issue of apostasy.
“MK/MI portal news dialam siber.mcmana BAKAR alamsiber?x ancam bakar reporter/bangunan.ianya simbolik kemarahan terhdp mrk yg BAKAR hati umat,” (MK/MI (Malaysiakini/Malaysian Insider) are cyber news portals. No threat to burn (any) reporters/building. (The remarks) were only symbolic of the anger towards them for burning the hearts of the Muslim community),” tweeted the former aide to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
In an impassioned speech on Friday at a mosque in Shah Alam, Ezam had declared an “all-out war” against those who attacked the Islamic faith - including their “agents” such as Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, he accused of being “rude” towards the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).
Jais officials had on Aug 3 carried out an operation at the DUMC on the premise that it had received reports Muslims were being exposed to Christian proselytisation during a fundraiser organised by social welfare NGO.
While their proponents have pointed to 'evidence' of Islamic teachings being discussed by those in attendance - including 12 Muslims - detractors have decried the lack of proof otherwise of proselytisation.
The enforcement personnel had also failed to produce a search or arrest warrant, but had nevertheless 'raided' the premises for pamphlets, brochures and other materials.
Commenting on Ezam yesterday, PKR vice-president N Surendran said his remarks were "criminal" deserving of action by the authorities.
"We are appalled that a sitting member of the Dewan Negara has uttered such words and threatened publicly to carry out criminal acts.
"This is an outrageous threat to the property and offices of these two news portals; more seriously, it is also a threat of grievous harm or death against their staff, writers and other occupants," said Surendran (right) in a statement yesterday evening.
Weighing in on the issue, Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon said Ezam's threat of violence was "uncalled for, unwarranted and unacceptable".
"If he thinks that reports in the online news portals were not correct and proper, he should present cogent arguments against them, present relevant facts and solid evidence, or even take legal action," said Koh, who is also a senator.
"Unfortunately, instead of using his intellect and influence to argue and counter whatever he did not agree with, he allowed himself to be overtaken by emotions and sentiments which have evoked negative reaction of others."
Koh said his colleague in the Dewan Negara has not only tarnished his image as "a senator but also that of the organisations he represents".
"In the spirit of 1Malaysia, leaders must talk and act with a strong sense of responsibility and restraint and help to resolve any inter-ethnic and inter-religious misunderstanding, controversy or conflict, but not to add more fuel to the fire.
Responding to Koh (right) today, Ezam said Koh's comparison of his statements to the riots in London that have led to the destruction of property and casualties was bodoh.
“JGN ikut rentak PKR/konco buat perbandingan bodoh burndown/bakar Mkini/MInsider dgn London Riot.” (Don't follow PKR's tune in stupidly comparing the burning of Mkini/MInsider with the London riots).
Ezam also reminded “them”, “especially ministers” to protect the social harmony being currently enjoyed: “Kesan hati umat Islam yg diBAKAR kesannya amat besar pd perpaduan.bertindaklah sblm terlambat." (The end result of Muslims' sensitivities being burned are grave to communal harmony. Act before it's too late.)
Ezam, in the event held after Friday prayers two days ago, warned Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider with “a very last warning”: “Our warning is a serious one. If you do not stop this rubbish, we are going to burn you down!" Ezam declared.
Also present were Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Nordin and Umno Youth exco member Lokman Noor Adam.
Zulkifli, also a former ally of Anwar, echoed Ezam's warning, calling on Muslims working in the news portals to "repent".
“I see representatives from Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider here, I would like to tell them, particularly Muslims, to repent.
"You are being barua (running dogs) of propagandist and enemy of Islam. Don't be running dogs of kafirs (infidels) that go against us," he said. - Malaysiakini
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