Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s call to the media to promote “moderation” rings hollow because the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia preaches the exact opposite, said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

NONE Commenting on Najib’s speech in Penang this morning, Kit Siang said the Malay-language daily has been allowed to “preach extremism” and to lie with impunity.

“Only today for instance, in another front-page (report), Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (left) was attacked for his speech at the second Pakatan Rakyat national convention yesterday.

NONE “(The paper had called) for the banning of the DAP on the ground that Guan Eng had questioned the citizenship and loyalty of Utusan Malaysia supporters. Guan Eng did not question the citizenship or loyalty of anyone when he spoke about the ‘real Malaysians’.”

This morning, Najib said that the media can promote moderation “to take back the centre” and reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism.

Speaking at the 43rd International Convention of the World Chinese Language Press Institute, Najib said that such a movement could marginalise the extremists.

“With collective determination, we can build a more rational, secure and equitable world. As media messages about the majority who seek peace and moderation spread around the globe, this new world is indeed within our reach,” he said.

Utusan’s accusation rebutted

Kit Siang argued that Utusan’s conduct was an affront to this idea and that it borders on extremism.

 

lim kit siang in manek urai “For instance, Utusan has accused the DAP of wanting to establish a republic in Malaysia and abolish the system of Malay rulers. This is a downright lie,” he said in a statement.

“Down through the decades, DAP has made it abundantly clear whether through its own political declarations or through Pakatan Rakyat common policy programmes that it upholds the fundamental features of the constitution including the system of constitutional monarchy.

 

“Yet the Utusan Malaysia has no compunction in resorting to lies and falsehoods in its campaign of extremism.”

NONE He said that unless Najib reins in the newspaper, his call for the media to promote moderation will have no credibility and would even throw his 1Malaysia campaign in doubt.

“Will Najib do anything to check the unprecedented degradation of political discourse in Malaysia by halting Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible, extremist and racist journalism and politicking?”