Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad has refused to apologise and retract his statement regarding a booklet distributed in Balik Pulau as it was his duty to point out factual errors in it.

pulau betong adun muhammad farid saad pc on my balik pulau newsletter 060211 01 Muhammad Farid ( right ) said it was not his intention to create racial tension or instil hatred among the various communities in Balik Pulau by pointing out mistakes in the booklet , as alleged by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said he had no idea who funded the booklet and he didn't want to blame anyone on the historical errors contained in the document.

The Umno leader took pains to defend himself, saying that he grew up and was schooled in the area, among many Chinese and Indian friends.

"I understand the hearts and souls of the various races; I grew up in Balik Pulau, where the majority is Chinese, I know more about this area than Lim who is from Malacca," said Muhammad Farid.

"It is my duty to ensure that all communities here live in peace, I would never create racial issues or hatred here... if God is willing, I hope to retire in this place" he added.

Farid alleged the booklet carried the state government logo, but insisted that he did not say it was printed by the state.

He urged the state government to check whether the state logo was misused by someone, adding that 12-page booklet was printed in 2010, and copies of it distributed in public places and among schools in Balik Pulau in Jan 2011.

"I got complaints from parents of kids who went to these schools and got the booklet, they pointed out the factual errors in it," he said.

Muhammad Farid also said he had contacted the state Education Department and was told the latter did not give any permission for the booklet to be distributed in schools.

"It seems the booklets were just left at the schools and the distributers did not meet nor discuss with the school authorities regarding distributing it in the school," he added.

Twisting history

Last week, Muhammad Farid had accused Pakatan Rakyat of twisting history and insulting the Malay community, charging that the booklet tried to show that it was the Chinese who first inhibited Balik Pulau, when factually it was the Malays.

In an Utusan Malaysia report, Muhammad Farid was quoted as saying that he was not aware of the motive of the booklet, but it appears to be an attempt by ‘certain quarters' to blur the historical facts about the area, which is mostly populated by the Malays.

Muhammad Farid insisted that the booklet was published by the Penang Arts Education Society, an advisory council appointed by the state, the Tourism Ministry office and telecommunication company, DIGI.

He was upset that the booklet also tried to imply that the Malays would go as far as selling their land or borrowing money from chettiars (money lenders) for dowry, as well fund their children's weddings.

Another problem he had with the booklet was that it had tried to imply that the Malays were refugees from Thailand who fled to Kedah and Penang.

"Historically, Penang once belonged to the Sultan of Kedah... so how can we be refugees on our own land," he said.

teoh beng hock group meets lim guan eng 080111 lim guan eng He added that several studies from academics in Universiti Sains Malaysia revealed that Malays were the first inhabitants of Balik Pulau.

Lim ( left ) however wants Muhammad Farid to apologise and retract his remarks or face legal action.

He denied any involvement of the state government in the publication of the booklet, saying it was funded by the federal government.

He accused Muhammad Farid of causing racial tension and created hatred among the various communities in Balik Pulau.