PETALING JAYA: An audio recording disproves a PAS Youth leader’s allegation that an FMT reporter had been hostile to minister Idris Ahmad and deputy minister Awang Hashim and had not introduced herself when posing questions to them last night.
“(I am) from Free Malaysia Today,” were among the first words Minderjeet Kaur said to religious affairs minister Idris when trying to get his response to the PAS-led Kedah state government’s ban on gaming outlets.
The audio recording dismisses the claim by PAS Youth information chief Nadzir Helmi that Minderjeet “suddenly approached” PAS vice-president Idris “without introducing herself and straightaway ‘claimed’ that the closure of gaming and liquor shops was against the rights of non-Muslims”.
In the audio recording, Idris can be heard acknowledging Minderjeet before she asked about the closure of gaming outlets in Kedah, which had been announced earlier in the day.
Nadzir had said in a statement in the PAS publication Harakahdaily that a “sharp question” by Idris was in response to what he considered to be FMT’s confrontational approach towards the minister.
He was referring to how Minderjeet, when seeking clarification from Idris on Kedah’s decision and whether the ban would be replicated in other states, was instead asked a question by the minister.
Idris had shot back to Minderjeet with the question: “Let me ask you first. Would you agree to your husband being a gambler?” Minderjeet replied to the minister that her family was not the issue being discussed.
Idris then refused to answer further questions until Minderjeet answered his question.
Nadzir also tried to defend the actions of deputy human resources minister Awang, who ticked off Minderjeet for asking questions in English.
Awang, who is MP for Pendang, Kedah, asked Minderjeet whether she was a Malaysian citizen because she was asking questions in English.
Nadzir wrote: “YB Awang reprimanded the journalist for her attitude and advised her to speak in Malay.”
However, what Nadzir did not say was that Idris and Awang were simply uncomfortable with the questions raised by Minderjeet, a veteran FMT journalist, who was interviewing the PAS leaders after the launch of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) manifesto yesterday.
Awang also accused Minderjeet of disrespecting him and Idris but failed to give any proof.
FMT defends the need for such questions to be posed to Idris, a senior leader of one of the component parties in the federal government and one that is governing three states in Peninsular Malaysia.
Several media advocacy groups and politicians have slammed the two PAS leaders for being hostile to the FMT journalist, who was on assignment at the PN event.
Among them were National Union of Journalists president Farah Marshita Abdul Patah, who said the union was unhappy with leaders and politicians such as the PAS duo who “bullied reporters who were carrying out their duties”.
Transcript of the conversation
Here is a transcript of the conversation between our reporter and Idris, as well as an interjection by Awang:
Minderjeet: YB, I …
Idris: Where are you from?
Minderjeet: I am from Free Malaysia Today.
Idris: Ha, okay. What is it?
Minderjeet: I want to ask about the Kedah menteri besar. Today he said all the 4D outlets (in Kedah) will be closed.
Idris: Ha, yes.
Minderjeet: There are a lot of people who are saying that you are infringing on the rights of non-Muslims. Can you comment?
Idris: This gambling, everyone, including Muslims and non-Muslims, do not agree with it.
Minderjeet: How do you know that?
Idris: Huh?
Minderjeet: How do you know that?
Idris: That’s why… like in Kelantan and Terengganu, this has been done and it has already been accepted by non-Muslims.
Minderjeet: But that is in Kelantan and Terengganu. But what about… people are worried that it might… you (PAS) might try to impose this in other states.
Awang: Ask in Malay.
Minderjeet: I know.
Awang: Are you Malaysian or not?
Minderjeet: I am a Malaysian.
Awang: If you are a Malaysian, speak Malay.
Minderjeet: No, please don’t do that to me. Please don’t do that.
Awang: Speak Malay, if you are Malaysian.
Minderjeet: I know. Please don’t do that.
Awang: Why? Why? It’s ok for you to do that to us?
Minderjeet: But you can always say it properly. Don’t do that, please.
Awang: You should also ask questions properly, you know. If you want me to respect you, you must respect us first.
Minderjeet: Of course, I am respecting. I am asking.
Awang: You speak Malay. Can you do that or not?
Minderjeet: Can
Awang: Please speak Malay.
Minderjeet: So why… Now people are worried that PAS might put this in other states…
Idris: Let me ask you first. Would you agree if your husband is a gambler?
Minderjeet: This is not about my family.
Idris: I’m asking you first. You answer my question first. Answer first. Ok, that’s enough. (leaves).
Voice 1: You are from?
Voice 2: Free Malaysia Today.
Voice 1: Free Malaysia Today… Normal… Today… (laughter). - FMT
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