Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged the government not to practice double standards and suspend the New Straits Times editor responsible for publishing a cartoon deemed as mocking Prophet Muhammad.

According to Bernama , he said the editor should be suspended for at least 'two to three months' to show the government's consistency and that it does not 'differentiate between newspapers which support it and those which are neutral'.

The 'Non Sequitur' comic strip, first published on Feb 20, featured a street artist next to a sign which read 'Caricatures of Muhammad while you wait'. A boxed caption read 'Kevin finally achieves his goal to be the most feared man in the world'.

Commenting on the cartoon, Mahathir said: "But to say that somebody is sitting there and for some money, I will make a caricature (of the prophet), that means you are saying that this is all right (when it is not)."

Lacks understanding

The 160-year-old newspaper was described as "insensitive" for publishing the cartoon and being out of touch with Muslim sentiments.

"So why do you publish it (the comic strip)? It shows that you lack understanding of the sentiments of the Muslims. And again they reproduce it yesterday as if to say that 'what is so wrong about this?'", said Mahathir.

The comic strip was reproduced yesterday with an accompanying article. The beginning of its second paragraph reads, "Does this (comic strip) mock Islam?".

"To ask the public that question, 'Look, this is what we publish, what is so wrong about it?' is already evidence that you don't understand (the issue at hand). And you reproduce the comic strip at the same time," added Mahathir.

Double-standards

Meanwhile, Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang asked if Malaysia would be the first country to object to this 'Non Sequitur' comic strip, which is published in 700 newspapers around the world.

In a statement today, he said the government will be accused of double-standards should no action be taken on the NST , which is widely believed to be linked to the ruling party.

"The anguish that the government should not continue to be guilty of double-standards is valid and legitimate, but three wrongs do not make a right," he added in reference to the suspension of two newspapers for publishing offensive caricatures of the prophet.