Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Perkasa threatens boycott, Star suspends two



The youth section of right-wing Malay NGO Perkasa will organise a boycott of MCA-owned English-daily The Star if the Home Ministry does not take stern action against the newspaper for allegedly insulting Islam.

"If there is no stern action from the ministry, we shall stage a nationwide roadshow to boycott The Star," Wira Perkasa chief Irwan Fahmy Ideris told reporters in Putrajaya today.

He said this after handing over a memorandum to a senior representative from the ministry's administration division, in which Wira Perkasa calls for strict action against The Star or a suspension of its printing licence.

"The Home Ministry should suspend The Star's printing permit or take stern action to ensure that this does not happen again," Irwan said.
In another development, two editors from the English daily were suspended today in connection with the use of an offending picture, according to sources.

No other detail was immediately available.

NONEThe daily apologised on its website on Monday and in the print version the following day.

Perkasa is part of the chorus lambasting the daily for publsihing a picture of American soul singer Erykah Badu (left) sporting a body art of the Arabic character representing the name of Allah.

"They don't seem to respect the sensitivities of Malays and Muslims, who are the majority in the country.

"If they are like this, they shouldn't be in the business. We, at Wira Perkasa, will no longer compromise with The Star," Irwan lashed out.

star pork photo report 110811 01He reiterated that this was the second time that the MCA-owned daily had committed such a blunder, pointing out that the newspaper had put a pork dish on its pages promoting food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last year.

According to Associated Press, Badu said she holds no grudge against the government for barring her from performing following the controversy.

More than 1,500 people had bought tickets to watch the Grammy-winning American singer at a Kuala Lumpur auditorium today.
"It's sad, because we traveled a long way," Badu was quoted as saying in Kuala Lumpur today.

"But I'm totally understanding of (the government's) protection of the laws and its people. He doesn't want anything to happen.

"I'm good with that."

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