"JIM is not extremist"

By Jeff Ooi,

I want to contrast the report in The Star today pertaining to Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) and MPPP Councillor Mohd Razali Abdullah.

For clarity, I reproduce the press statement verbatim which was issued from Hong Kong via DAP Jelutong Service Centre.

.MEDIA STATEMENT

‘JIM not extremist,’ said Guan Eng.
Appropriate to withdraw statement.

HONG KONG, 06 August 2009 – I have been advised by DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng that Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) is not an extreme organisation, and that it is appropriate to withdraw my statement published in The Star, August 2, and move on.

As such, I shall fully oblige with the directive.

However, for clarity, it is imperative to establish the relevant context to the matter arisen.

The complex circumstances leading to the appointment of Mohd Razali Abdullah into the One-Stop-Centre (OSC) of MPPP – particularly as a JIM member nominated under the PKR banner, and his behaviour during OSC meetings -- had now become a political burden for the state government.

We will now deal with him and his continued presence in the OSC through the political avenues.

Hence, it is also imperative that all parties concerned should immediately stop the usual religious profiling accorded unto DAP leaders.

For the benefit of onward progress of Penang, I shall continue to speak up on governance issues as the voice of conscience for Penang, like what many before had done for Penang in the past, as well as fulfilling my responsibility as an elected representative and a national legislator on behalf of Jelutong people.

END

Now that Council President Tan Cheng Chui, who had barely held the post for 100 days, has suddenly fallen sick, it means MPPP will not have a full-time YDP for sometime. See Bernama and Guang Ming Daily.

Is this the perfect recipe for chaos? The business community who depended on the OSC decisions must tell us.