Utusan claims Malaysiakini, Aziz Bari out to trivialise proselytisation
(The Malaysian Insider) – Utusan Malaysia lashed out at law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari and Malaysiakini today for allegedly attempting to divert public anger away from the controversial issue of proselytisation in Malaysia.
Its editors, writing under the pseudonym “Awang Selamat”, accused the news portal of attempting to set a “trap” by publishing news meant to incite feelings of uneasiness against the Royal Institution, erode the spirit of the Federal Constitution and steer Malaysia towards becoming a republic.
The Umno-owned daily cautioned the authorities against allowing Malaysiakini “immunity” to freely publish alternative views, claiming the news portal was gaining strength as the country’s “third force”.
The daily was referring to the recent uproar over Abdul Aziz’s recent response as carried by Malaysiakini to the Selangor Sultan’s decree last week, where the academician reportedly said the ruler’s intervention in the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) raid controversy was “uncommon and inconsistent”.
“Strangely, it seems as if Malaysiakini has immunity to do as it pleases. In Singapore, wild and provocative comments will invite immediate action,” said Awang in his column published in the paper’s Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia.
“Unfortunately in Malaysia, there are parties who should be shouldering this responsibility but have not been carrying out their duties with efficiency, steadfastness and effectiveness,” he added.
Awang then sniped at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for allowing Malaysiakini to air such comments on its website, claiming the public had grown “bored” waiting for action to be taken.
“As usual, MCMC would have its reasons … when Malaysiakini gains strength daily as the third force, on the back of provocation after provocation,” he said.
He added it would not be surprising if “sentiments flared by the portal” would later shape the people’s mindset.
“But do not blame Malaysiakini then, blame ourselves. We allowed it to reach such a stage,” he said.
