Pressure grows on MCA daily as probe hits conflict of interest
Hours after a Harakahdaily report on the matter sparked outrage among netizens, the staunchly anti-PAS daily published a short apology on its website, claiming it was as an “oversight”.
(Harakah Daily) – MCA-controlled daily The Star continued to be lambasted over its publication of articles and pictures deemed offensive by Muslims, the latest of which was a picture of an American singer who spotted the Arabic calligraphy of ‘Allah’ on her bare chest.
According to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, the latest episode coupled with past “oversights” committed by the paper only proved that “UMNO’s best friend” had been licensed to attack Muslims and Islam.
“MCA has become more aggressive under prime minister Najib Razak. It seems like UMNO has given them license to hit out at Islam in this divide-and-rule game of theirs,” said Mat Sabu when contacted by Harakahdaily.
On Monday, the paper splashed a picture of American singer Erykah Badu alongside an article to promote her upcoming concert in Kuala Lumpur, which has since been cancelled after intense protests of her insensitivity to Muslims.
Hours after a Harakahdaily report on the matter sparked outrage among netizens, the staunchly anti-PAS daily published a short apology on its website, claiming it was as an “oversight”.
However, such an ‘oversight’ was not the first. During Ramadan last year, the paper ran an article on pork dishes in its ‘Ramadhan Delights’ supplement, and later apologised giving a similar reason.
This followed another article in February that year by its managing editor P Gunasegaram, questioning Islamic laws in the wake of a whipping sentence meted out by the Shariah court against three women for the charge of adultery.
Conflict of interest?
Several quarters, including PAS Youth and Muslim NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, as well as Perlis Mufti Juanda Jaya, had called on the government to punish the paper by suspending its publication.
Under pressure, deputy Home minister Lee Chee Leong announced that his his ministry had summoned the daily’s managing editor, chief news editor and senior editor for an explanation.
“Further action will be based on the daily’s written explanation to the ministry,” said Lee, who is Kampar member of parliament and a Central Committee member in MCA.
Reacting to Lee’s statement, Mat Sabu hoped there would be conflict of interest when a minister representing the MCA was involved in investigating a paper owned by the party.
“If there’s no real punishment, it would prove that UMNO ministers deliberately want MCA to attack Islam,” he added.
PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi also raised doubts over Lee’s involvement in investigating MCA’s paper.
“Many doubt if appropriate action will be taken against the MCA-owned daily. How can a MCA central committee member investigate and punish his party’s paper? This is hilarious,” he quipped.
Nasrudin said that the Home ministry should be more serious, adding that it should stop fearing MCA.
