A small group of men gathered in front of the Penang office of The Star newspaper today and set fire to a large stack of newspapers over its offending Ramadan supplement.
The 11, who said they represented several Malay NGOs, first stomped on the papers, calling them “paper haram” (illegal) and “berita palsu” (false news).
The NGOs include Malay rights pressure group the Penang branch of Perkasa, Suara Anak Anak Malaysia (SAAM) and Persatuan Kemajuan Insan Malaysia.
Later, the group held up yellow placards carrying anti-The Star slogans, while crying out for the Home Ministry to take further action against the newspaper's editor.
They warned of “bigger actions” if the newspaper fails to seriously apologise for running 'buka puasa' (breaking of fast) articles together with stories of non-halal restaurants in a supplement pullout.
“We will later bring three trailers of newspapers to burn if the paper does not apologise properly,” shouted SAAM chief Abdul Ghani Mohammad Jiman.
Northeast Penang Perkasa chief Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Azuddin said the paper, which represented the minorities in the country, has hurt the feelings of the majority, who are Muslims.
He called for sterner action against the newspaper and its editor by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
“They have not seriously apologised for their mistakes. The editor must take responsibility for his mistake,” he added.
'Take sterner action'
Another Perkasa representative, Noorhalim Abdul, said the Home Ministry should suspend the newspaper's publishing permit for its recent error.
“Sterner actions should be taken against the newspaper's editor, he should be terminated from his job,” he said.
Hishammuddin had said the ministery was not satisfied with The Star's immediate apology over the matter.
He had asked the The Star to do more to soothe the feelings of Muslims who were deeply hurt over the newspaper's insensitive articles in its 'Dining Out' supplement.
The controversy erupted after the supplement, which was published last week with the cover headline 'Ramadan Delights', was found to also contain articles and pictures of pork dishes and non-halal restaurants, something Muslims find very offensive.
The newspaper has suspended its supplement editor and apologised twice over the matter.
About 50 policemen stood watch while the activity took place in Bayan Lepas, about 1km from the Penang International Airport.
Southwest Police chief Lai Fah Hin (right), who was at the site, said he allowed the group 10 minutes to rally and five minutes to disperse.
He said he had warned them not to damage any public or private property and they had complied with the order.
“As for the open burning, I have reported them to the Environment Department, which will take the necessary action,” he added.
The 11, who said they represented several Malay NGOs, first stomped on the papers, calling them “paper haram” (illegal) and “berita palsu” (false news).
The NGOs include Malay rights pressure group the Penang branch of Perkasa, Suara Anak Anak Malaysia (SAAM) and Persatuan Kemajuan Insan Malaysia.
Later, the group held up yellow placards carrying anti-The Star slogans, while crying out for the Home Ministry to take further action against the newspaper's editor.
They warned of “bigger actions” if the newspaper fails to seriously apologise for running 'buka puasa' (breaking of fast) articles together with stories of non-halal restaurants in a supplement pullout.
“We will later bring three trailers of newspapers to burn if the paper does not apologise properly,” shouted SAAM chief Abdul Ghani Mohammad Jiman.
Northeast Penang Perkasa chief Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Azuddin said the paper, which represented the minorities in the country, has hurt the feelings of the majority, who are Muslims.
He called for sterner action against the newspaper and its editor by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
“They have not seriously apologised for their mistakes. The editor must take responsibility for his mistake,” he added.
'Take sterner action'
Another Perkasa representative, Noorhalim Abdul, said the Home Ministry should suspend the newspaper's publishing permit for its recent error.
“Sterner actions should be taken against the newspaper's editor, he should be terminated from his job,” he said.
Hishammuddin had said the ministery was not satisfied with The Star's immediate apology over the matter.
He had asked the The Star to do more to soothe the feelings of Muslims who were deeply hurt over the newspaper's insensitive articles in its 'Dining Out' supplement.
The controversy erupted after the supplement, which was published last week with the cover headline 'Ramadan Delights', was found to also contain articles and pictures of pork dishes and non-halal restaurants, something Muslims find very offensive.
The newspaper has suspended its supplement editor and apologised twice over the matter.
About 50 policemen stood watch while the activity took place in Bayan Lepas, about 1km from the Penang International Airport.
Southwest Police chief Lai Fah Hin (right), who was at the site, said he allowed the group 10 minutes to rally and five minutes to disperse.
He said he had warned them not to damage any public or private property and they had complied with the order.
“As for the open burning, I have reported them to the Environment Department, which will take the necessary action,” he added.
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