Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
News
Penang denies cutting allocations to religious schools
Published:  Oct 11, 2015 4:45 PM
Updated: 1:34 PM

The Penang government has denied allegations that the state has reduced the annual allocation of RM1.75 million for religious schools.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said in truth, the allocation for Islamic religious affairs has increased since 2008, when the then Pakatan Rakyat government took over Penang.

“Certain quarters - who are racists and extremists - have been using religious issues to slander me, and to create racial disharmony in the country,” he said in a statement today.

Lim said the anti-Penang government quarters are busy fanning racial and religious sentiments to cover up the RM42 billion debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

"This alleged financial scandal has so burdened the country that the Conference of Rulers made history by issuing a decree that action be taken against the culprits," Lim said.

Lim’s statement was in response to allegations by the PAS ulama wing that Penang stopped giving aid to religious schools owned by PAS members.

Increasing racial provocation

Lim cited several examples, which he said worsened racial and religious harmony in Penang.

These accusations against him include the claims of cutting allocations to religious schools and giving RM200 each to three Penang Island City Council (MBPP) officers to retract their police report against two men who had verbally abused them for wheel-clamping their car.

He was also accused of issuing an edict ( fatwa ) and tweeting that those who do not agree to the banning of loudspeakers in mosques except for the use of azan prayers to “get out of” Penang.

“These are totally false accusations and lies,” Lim lamented.

Lim said he has lodged a police report on the fake tweet, while the RM200 given to the three MBPP officers were for their “courage and professionalism” at work.

He said the state has instructed one of the MBPP officers involved in the incident to lodge a second police report on the matter, while the two men who alleged abused the officers have been remanded.

Related report

'Penang shows success possible without racial or religious conflicts'

ADS