Penang PAS deputy commissioner I Mujahid Yusof Rawa has expressed regret with Malay newspaper Berita Harian for “twisting” his statement in a press conference held on Iszuree Ibrahim in an article the newspaper published today.

Mujahid is upset with the front-page report in Berita Harian , with the headline 'DAP tidak pernah ajak PAS bincang' (DAP never invited PAS to discuss), which he said was "a lie".

The first paragraph of the report says PAS claims there are serious problems (on the Iszuree issue), which need immediate attention from the state government led by DAP so that the issue will not become worse.

Mujahid, who is the MP for Parit Buntar, said: "The headline of the story has nothing to do with the press conference held yesterday, at which where I read out my statement.

"Why would I say that DAP never invited us to discuss (about Penang) when we have two local councillors and several members in the JKKK (village development and security committees)."

"I said there is room for improvement but I never said there were serious problems. It is disappointing that they should put words in my mouth.

"I do not know why Berita Harian did this. Are they trying to create prejudice towards the relationship between DAP and PAS in Penang?"

Yesterday, Mujahid expressed regret over the misunderstandings that arose following Iszuree’s criticism of the state government on its squatter policy, in a speech he made as a delegate at the PAS muktamar in Johor on Sept 19.

Speech provokes calls to sack Iszuree

In his speech, Iszuree urged the Penang government to stop implementing policies of the previous BN government, which he said were pro-developer.

Iszuree’s speech prompted 19 of his colleagues in the Penang Municipal Council to call on the state government to sack him from his post.

Earlier, Iszuree was dropped from three sub-committees in the MPPP, and his budget allocations were also frozen.

In a press conference held in Tasek Gelugor yesterday, Mujahid said the state government had addressed development problems in Penang, but there "is room for improvement".

Mujahid also  also acknowledged that the Pakatan Rakyat council had not met for a long time and this may result in problems of the administration, parties and the people not being addressed properly.

PAS Penang came to the conclusion at a meeting on Oct 3, after its discussion with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng a day earlier.

Meanwhile, the Penang government will discuss Iszuree’s status as municipal councillor at the state executive council meeting tomorrow.

State executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin ( left ) said the state government has taken note of the regret voiced out by PAS Penang over Iszuree’s speech, which it claimed was “wrong and was not in line with real facts”.

Afif said the state government welcomed the intention of the state PAS leaders to rectify the situation.

“As a municipal councillor, Izuree needs to understand better the real policies practised by the state government, which are in fact, pro-people and always firm towards any developer that fails to resolve its problems with squatters,” Afif said in a statement.