The Pulau Pinang Friday Sermon issue; Controversy or Slander?

Here is the latest from DAP Supreme Leader's blog in defense of his son YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng on the Friday Sermon controversy:

Utusan Malaysia’s front-page headline is the most irresponsible act in history of Malaysian journalism

The Utusan Malaysia’s front-page headline today “Nama Guan Eng ganti Agong – Disebut dalam doa khutbah Jumaat: Umno Pulau Pinang bantah” is the most irresponsible act in the history of Malaysian journalism – utterly baseless, a mischievous and dangerous incitement to religious hatred, tension and discord in plural Malaysia and goes against all the principles and values espoused by 1Malaysia.

The first Merdeka month celebrations themed “1Malaysia Transforming the Nation” should celebrate Malaysia’s unity in diversity of ethnicity, religions, cultures and beliefs, the concepts of inclusiveness, social justice and the 1Malaysia principles of culture of excellence, integrity, wisdom, humility, loyalty and the twin commitments of People First, Performance Now.

But we have the opposite as illustrated by Utusan Malaysia’s front-page headline of falsehood and dangerous incitement to religious hatred, discord and tension.

The Penang State Government, through the Exco Member in charge of religious affairs Abdul Malik Abul Kassim has completely denied and refuted the allegation of the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s name has replaced the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s name in the Friday sermon at several mosques in the state.

Abdul Malik said initial investigations showed no such incident had occurred as the text of the sermon, which is prepared by the state religious affairs department, never used Lim’s name.

As Abdul Malik said, whoever did such a thing was ‘insane’ (tidak waras) as no right thinking person would do it.

Read the rest here.

This is a very serious matter and yes only a crazy power person who has lost all sense of normality would replace the DYMM Agung's name in the Friday Sermons at some mosque in Penang with that of YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng.

In the interest of the truth the DAP Ketua Menteri of Pulau Pinang should not just issue outright denials or thru his father ask for an apology or explanation. In fact Tuan Lim should start court proceedings to sue Zahid and the Utusan Malaysia for slander. If Tuan Lim do not sue this time then the slander repeated many times can be perceived as a fact.

I hope Utusan and Zahid will have irrefutable facts with them not just hearsay.