Ismail Sabri: Be careful when making statements on culture, religion

All parties should be careful when issuing statements, especially that touch on culture and religion, as it could invite reactions, said Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He also hoped that police would complete the investigations fast into the insulting Facebook postings made by Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming on the Aidilfitri celebration.

"This is to stop the (angry) reactions from various parties (to Nga's postings). I hope all will be more careful when making statements which could hurt the feelings of others as there will be definitely be reactions."

Ismail Sabri, who is also rural and regional development minister, said this to reporters at the ministry's Aidilfitri celebration in Putrajaya today which was attended by almost 10,000 people.

Rantau Panjang Umno division chief Abdullah Mohd Yassin, who was met at the Raya do, said Nga should not have made the posting on giving 'duit raya' (raya money) as it was a long-held tradition in Malaysia.

"It's not just a practice by the Muslim commmunity in this country but the Chinese here too give 'ang pow' to the elderly, children and less fortunate (for the Chinese New Year celebration).

Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief Mohd Sabri Alwi said Umno Youth members' action of marching and gathering in front of the DAP headquarters was a mark of protest to Nga's insensitive remarks which hurt the feelings of the Malays.

Nga had uploaded onto his Facebook page, his Aidilfitri greetings which carried a picture with the background featuring a lighthouse and the American flag.

Through his Facebook account, his posting on July 6 titled "Hanya di Malaysia di bawah Umno, Selamat Hari Raya" (Only in Malaysia under Umno, Happy Hari Raya), carried a caricature of two children asking for donations from an individual, besides the dialogue between the two kids which many netizens found offensive.

Police have opened investigation papers under the Sedition Act 1948 and Penal Code against Nga for insulting the Aidilfitri celebration through his Facebook account.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said several police reports had been received against Nga's Facebook entries and police had started investigating to ascertain whether the entries were made by Nga or not.

– Bernama