Problems brewing in Penang Pakatan : Islamic group lashes out at Penang CM’s office

Islamic group lashes out at Penang CM’s office

By TAN SIN CHOW

GEORGE TOWN: A shouting match broke out at the Chief Minister’s office in Komtar when a group of Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs) wanted to hand over a memorandum to Lim Guan Eng.

In the 11am incident on Wednesday, the group comprising about 15 people went up to level 28 where the state executive council was having its weekly meeting and insisted on meeting Lim.

Calling themselves Forum Penyelarasan Umat (Forum), an umbrella body for more than 20 Islamic NGOs in the state, the group had earlier submitted a memorandum demanding Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi retract and apologise over a statement he made purportedly linking Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) to religious extremists.

Lim’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik, who had earlier received the group’s memorandum on behalf of his boss, ordered them to leave but they refused. He then ordered security to escort them out.

There was a shouting match between Ng and the group, with Forum spokesman Hafiz Nordin lashing out at Ng for being “arrogant.”

“Are you trying to chase us out? Do not forget that it was the people’s power that swept you into the office,” he said.

Penang JIM committee member Md Roslan Hashim then pleaded with Ng and requested a one-minute meeting with Lim, saying the issue needed immediate attention.

“If this is not possible, at least allow one of us to meet Lim and hand over the memorandum,” he said.

But Ng was firm, saying he was authorised to receive the memorandum on Lim’s behalf since his boss was at a meeting.

The situation only eased up when Penang Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman showed up to receive the memorandum some 20 minutes later.

Ng said the group was “barking up the wrong tree” as they should have gone to meet Ooi.

“They should pass the memorandum to Ooi. Lim had clarified that Ooi made the statement on his own accord and it had nothing do with the state government,” he said.

Later at the Komtar foyer, Hafiz, who is also the Malaysia Islamic Scholar Penang Branch deputy president II, said the Islamic NGOs viewed the matter seriously.

“How could Ooi give such a statement in a multiracial country like Malaysia? He should think before he speaks,” he said, adding that the statement had offended Muslims in the state.

source : thestar.com.my