Utusan insists not racist or lying
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
Utusan Malaysia was forced to defend itself today, saying that it was not racist and did not write false news reports, a day after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would sue the paper for defamation.
In an editorial today, the Umno mouthpiece said that it placed “importance” on unity and peace among all races in the country, but also admitted that it had been more “vocal” on Malay rights issues soon after the March 2008 general election.
“We admit that especially after the 2008 general election, Utusan has become more vocal with regards to Malay rights and Islamic issues. However our readers, especially non-Malay readers, have to understand that after the last general election, there have been too many attacks against the Malays as well as Islam. This includes issues on quotas, language, equity, the position of the King and also the sanctity of the word ‘Allah’.
“Although all these have been guaranteed under the Federal Constitution as Malay rights, but what’s obvious is that these issues are still being challenged today,” said the newspaper.
Utusan Malaysia insisted that it was a victim in the war of public perception, claiming that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had been unfairly portraying the paper as racist.
It stressed that its staunch defence of Malay rights was a “responsibility”, saying that there were “opportunists” out there consistently making the newspaper look bad.
“Look at how the DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng accuses the readers and fans ofUtusan as un-Malaysian for supposedly being extremist.
“This is the kind of unacceptable attitude of some politicians who attack us just because we report on the mismanagement of the state government as well as the crisis in opposition parties.
“Guan Eng should not expect the media to praise him especially since the Malays in Penang have been deprived of their rights. Time should not be wasted on him, but readers out there need to be more realistic in judging this paper and not get carried way by politicians fanning racial sentiments,” it said.
Utusan’s remarks today come shortly after the Penang CM said the paper had been printing “lies” about him and the state administration.
