Perikatan Nasional (PN) lodged a police report this morning against DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng.
This is over a speech in which he is accused of saying that the coalition would destroy Buddhist temples in Penang should they come to power in the upcoming state elections.
Among those present outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters was PN Youth deputy chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who accused the DAP chairperson of capitalising on racial sentiments and “poisoning the minds” of Chinese voters for the upcoming state elections.
“What Lim said in Mandarin is quite seditious in nature.
“Lim is poisoning the minds of Chinese voters and scaring them of the alleged ‘Green Wave,’ a term which we have clearly rejected,” said Wan Ahmad Faysal at the press conference outside Dang Wangi today.
He added that stern action should be taken against anyone, be it politicians or members of the public, who take religious sentiments “to the extreme”.
“Muslims are forbidden to destroy any houses of worship even during times of war… so if political leaders somehow intend to destroy houses of worship, we will not hesitate to take action against them,” he said.
Lim made a speech at the 2023 Tian Fu Gong White Dragon King Singapore-Malaysia Tour event in Tokong Batu in Jelutong, Penang, on July 7.
A MalaysiaNow report - which translated from a China Press report - quoted him as saying the “Green Wave” would result in temples being destroyed, but the worship of “gods and Buddha” would be protected if the current Penang government remained.
Denial and clarification
Lim later issued a denial, saying he was remarking on Hindu temples being demolished - citing a 2020 case in Kedah.
China Press also issued a clarification and a transcript that reflected Lim’s denial.
However, Wan Ahmad Fahysal said that PN has done its checks and believes Lim’s remarks are still provocative.
“If Lim somehow thinks that MalaysiaNow or China Press has misconstrued his statements, he is more than welcome to take legal action against them,” he said.
Regarding the police report today, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said it was lodged under Sections 499, 500, and 505 of the Penal Code and Section 4 of the 1948 Sedition Act.
On police investigating PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for allegedly touching on the 3R - religion, royalty and race - issues in his attacks against DAP, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal argues that Lim should also face similar scrutiny.
“We would like to see the same thing happen to Lim, and see him coming down to the police station for playing racial sentiments.” he said.
Police yesterday said it was already investigating Guan Eng over his temple remarks.
Not the first time
Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth leader Cooper Khoo said this is not the first time Lim has made such statements, especially among the Chinese.
“We understand the importance of gaining Chinese votes, but we do not want to achieve this by playing with racial and religious sentiments,” said Khoo.
Khoo states that PN wants to focus more on economic and welfare issues and urges the public to be mindful and understanding of each other, regardless of racial differences.
Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar also emphasised that PN has no agenda or policies to destroy any houses of worship and that they will continue to uphold the nation’s principles of multiculturalism.
“For example, Kelantan has been under PAS governance for a long time, yet there have never been non-Muslim houses of worship which have been destroyed in the state.”
“Nobody is forced to follow Islam. For as long as our national constitution continues to uphold freedom of religion, we will adhere by it.” - Mkini
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