An Utusan Malaysia journalist was told by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to leave a press conference today on grounds that the state's Pakatan Rakyat has a pending civil suit case against the Umno-controlled Malay daily.

The justification was used by Lim to bar Penang Utusan assistant bureau chief Haszrul Mohamed from attending the press-meet following the swearing-in ceremony of new Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Mokhtar Mohd Jait in Bukit Mertajam.