‘The Star’ told to explain

KUALA NERUS: Star Media Group has been summoned by the Home Ministry to provide an explanation over its front-page story headlined “Malaysian terrorist leader” on Saturday.

The ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim, said the daily needed to explain why it had used a picture of Muslims praying under the headline and insensitively displayed a spa advertisement on the same page.

“We want to hear from the chief editor tomorrow (today). If we are not convinced, we may issue a show-cause letter,” he told a press conference attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Tok Jembal Mosque here yesterday.

Alwi said the cover painted a bad image of Muslims.

He said mainstream media organisations were briefed by the ministry on what to avoid in their reporting during Ramadan in a meeting on last week. “Obviously, it has not been heeded.”

The Star had apologised on its website over the matter.