Penang CM claims he is being subjected to politically motivated and selective prosecution over his comments on the Allah issue.
FMT
GEORGE TOWN: A day after claiming that the Barisan Nasional-controlled media was trying to target him by attacking his wife, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed he was being bullied by the on-going police investigation on the “Allah” statement he made last month.
Lim also claimed he was being subjected to politically motivated and selective prosecution, and not one based on the rule of law or justice.
“Clearly they are bullying me. They felt bullying the Penang Chief Minister was easier than (bullying) MCA,” Lim, the DAP secretary-general, told newsmen during an event here today.
He argued that if he was to be probed over the Allah issue, then the police should also investigate MCA for suggesting he repeal the Penang State Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004, something his state government would never agree to do.
“This is worse because it means the state Islamic religious council must be abolished,” he said, adding that all he had ever stated was that an Islamic fatwa was only applicable to Muslims, and did not concern non-Muslims in his state.
“Why was MCA not probed. Why only me?” asked Lim.
He was responding to a statement by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday that police would investigate and record Lim’s statement on the “Allah” issue if and when needed as the legal process would take time to be completed.
Wan Junaidi also said Lim, like all others, was not above the law.
In December last year, Lim triggered a controversy when he reportedly said that non-Muslims in Penang were free to use the word Allah.
A list of 40 words, including Allah, Solat, Ulama, Soleh, Mufti, Iman, Surau and Nabi, were decreed as exclusive to Muslims by the Penang Mufti and enforced in 2010, under the Pakatan Rakyat administration, under sub-section 48(3) and (4) of the Enactment 2004.
Lim’s interpretation of the ban drew flak from various Muslim quarters, especially Umno and Perkasa, while non-Muslim groups backed him.
Several police reports were also lodged by various parties against Lim claiming that the chief minister’s statement was seditious and an insult to Muslims while demanding that swift action be taken against him for sedition.
Yesterday Lim denounced BN-linked media organisations for their reports about his wife being appointed to a position in the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).
He said they were bankrupt of ideas and overplaying a non-issue since his wife, Betty Chew had rejected the appointment.
He accused them of making indirect attacks at him by targeting his family.
“Previously it was my son. Now it’s my wife. Will they go after my mother next?” he asked.
FMT
GEORGE TOWN: A day after claiming that the Barisan Nasional-controlled media was trying to target him by attacking his wife, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed he was being bullied by the on-going police investigation on the “Allah” statement he made last month.
Lim also claimed he was being subjected to politically motivated and selective prosecution, and not one based on the rule of law or justice.
“Clearly they are bullying me. They felt bullying the Penang Chief Minister was easier than (bullying) MCA,” Lim, the DAP secretary-general, told newsmen during an event here today.
He argued that if he was to be probed over the Allah issue, then the police should also investigate MCA for suggesting he repeal the Penang State Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004, something his state government would never agree to do.
“This is worse because it means the state Islamic religious council must be abolished,” he said, adding that all he had ever stated was that an Islamic fatwa was only applicable to Muslims, and did not concern non-Muslims in his state.
“Why was MCA not probed. Why only me?” asked Lim.
He was responding to a statement by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday that police would investigate and record Lim’s statement on the “Allah” issue if and when needed as the legal process would take time to be completed.
Wan Junaidi also said Lim, like all others, was not above the law.
In December last year, Lim triggered a controversy when he reportedly said that non-Muslims in Penang were free to use the word Allah.
A list of 40 words, including Allah, Solat, Ulama, Soleh, Mufti, Iman, Surau and Nabi, were decreed as exclusive to Muslims by the Penang Mufti and enforced in 2010, under the Pakatan Rakyat administration, under sub-section 48(3) and (4) of the Enactment 2004.
Lim’s interpretation of the ban drew flak from various Muslim quarters, especially Umno and Perkasa, while non-Muslim groups backed him.
Several police reports were also lodged by various parties against Lim claiming that the chief minister’s statement was seditious and an insult to Muslims while demanding that swift action be taken against him for sedition.
Yesterday Lim denounced BN-linked media organisations for their reports about his wife being appointed to a position in the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC).
He said they were bankrupt of ideas and overplaying a non-issue since his wife, Betty Chew had rejected the appointment.
He accused them of making indirect attacks at him by targeting his family.
“Previously it was my son. Now it’s my wife. Will they go after my mother next?” he asked.
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