Lee to give police statement over Quran interpretation

 

Police are expected to record Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee’s statement tomorrow over his alleged attempt at making his own interpretations of verses from the Quran.

Speaking to Utusan, Lee said he would willingly cooperate with the police when giving his statement tomorrow, scheduled for around 3pm.

“Yes, I will cooperate. Will meet with the police on Tuesday evening,” he was quoted as saying.

Lee (above) is returning from the United States as part of Malaysia’s delegation to the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

On Sept 22, police launched an investigation against Lee following reports lodged over one of his TikTok videos where he allegedly cited Surah An-Nisa verse 59, thereby insulting Islam.

Yesterday, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain confirmed that Lee’s statement would be taken as soon as he returned to Malaysia.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that Lee would be investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The DAP central executive member came under fire after he quoted the Quranic verse and related it to the Islamist party’s efforts in contending the government.

Campaign material

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor immediately used the incident as material for the ongoing Pelangai by-election campaign.

The PAS leader said Lee's use of the Quranic passage was a sign of "growing liberalism" and urged voters to reject the BN candidate, who is allied with DAP.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki came to Lee’s defence, stating that while he had advised Lee not to use Quranic verses when discussing politics in the future, PAS once welcomed such behaviour.

Perak DAP leader Abdul Aziz Bari said that Lee, as a non-Muslim, was not beholden to Islamic laws in Malaysia.

Former deputy law minister Hanipa Maidin, on the other hand, argued that the police had no grounds to launch investigations on Islamic-related issues.