Two years on, no action over 'Christian state' lie

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has questioned why the police have not acted against pro-Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia for spreading "dangerous lies and propagating religious hatred".

Lim said the groups and a pro-Umno blogger had in 2011 alleged that DAP wants to ‘set up a Christian state’ in Penang or Malaysia.

Utusan, the Umno-owned Malay language daily, had based its report on "revelations" by blogger Zakir Mohammed who goes by the moniker Bigdogdotcom.

In a statement, Lim said the DAP supports the statement by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday that those who stir up racial and religious sentiments should be rejected.

He said Anwar is correct in saying there is no truth in the claim against the DAP and him, as both have been unwavering in their support of Islam as the official religion of the country. as stated in the federal constitution.

"These lies were (created) ... against the DAP merely on the flimsy ground that party leaders had attended a closed-door meeting with Christian pastors (in Penang)," Lim said.

"What is wrong with attending a closed-door meeting with Christian pastors when DAP leaders have also attended meetings with leaders from other religious groups, including Muslims?"

Lim said the pro-Umno groups had even lodged several police reports against the DAP and the Christian pastors.

A policeinvestigation into the meeting, which had involved Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, has proved that the allegation was a lie.

"More so, when Ooi is not a Christian but a Buddhist. Even though the police closed the case, no action has been taken against these irresponsible groups who spread such lies,” Lim noted.

In October 2011, then Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein hadconfirmed that there was no evidence to support the claim that Christian groups were conspiring to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia.