New Straits Times

TAJUDDIN TOLD TO RETRACT STATEMENT

Calling the govt ‘Christian-led’ a malicious accusation, says DAP

- RAHMAT KHAIRULRIJ­AL KUALA LUMPUR Rahmat@nst.com.my

ADAP lawmaker yesterday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Umno leader Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to retract his malicious accusation that the current government was “Christian-led”.

Kepong member of parliament Lim Lip Eng, in a statement, said Tajuddin, who was also former deputy agricultur­e and agrobased industries minister, should prove his allegation­s against the government, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and the Christian community.

“I demand that Tajuddin withdraws his unfounded and malicious accusation against DAP and its leaders within 24 hours or I will lodge a report with the authoritie­s to take criminal action against him.

“Umno must take disciplina­ry action against him for promoting politics of race and religion based on lies.

“As a senior member of parliament, he should not resort to hateful lies and create enmity between the communitie­s in the country.

“Would he (Tajuddin) dare to bring the same allegation when campaignin­g in the upcoming byelection­s in Balakong and Seri Setia?”

Lim said he was listening to Tajuddin’s speech in Kampung Jawa the night before the recent Sungai Kandis by-election, where he urged voters not to support a “Christian-led” Federal Government, referring to DAP.

Tajuddin, who is Pasir Salak member of parliament, also claimed that DAP was the driving force in Pakatan Harapan (PH), and was behind Tun Mahathir’s decisions, and he predicted that DAP would one day seek to abolish the monarchy and make Malaysia a republic.

Lim said PH’s recent victory in Sungai Kandis by-election was a clear statement that the people, particular­ly the Malays, were mature and rational.

“The message from the Sungai Kandis by-election result is that the new Malaysia has no place for politics of fear, hate, and lies,” he said.

The Sungai Kandis state seat remained with PKR when its candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni secured 15,427 votes in the by-election on Saturday.

Zawawi beat Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, who obtained 9,585 votes, and independen­t candidate K. Murthy, who secured only 97 votes.

A tahfiz school principal, Zawawi won with a 5,842-vote majority.

 ?? PIC BY EIZAIRI SHAMSUDIN ?? DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng wants Tajuddin to withdraw his unfounded accusation against DAP, failing which he will lodge a report with the authoritie­s.
PIC BY EIZAIRI SHAMSUDIN DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng wants Tajuddin to withdraw his unfounded accusation against DAP, failing which he will lodge a report with the authoritie­s.

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