PAS Youth handed over a memorandum to Malay language newspaper Utusan Malaysia today objecting to a caricature that appeared two days ago, claiming that it had insulted Islam.

Four top leaders of the Islamist party’s wing said they came in peace to express their concern over the cartoon strip.

NONE The delegation, led by Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan ( centre in picture ) who was accompanied by secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil and executive council member Mohd Sany Hamzan, entered Utusan ’s premises at around 9.35am.

The memorandum was accepted by a representative of Utusan ’s editorial board, who said that he will take it up with the daily’s editor-in-chief, Aziz Ishak.

The representative, however, declined to address the reporters and walked back into the daily’s headquarters soon after seeing off the PAS Youth members.

About 30 police personnel guarded the entrance and two Light Strike Force (LSF) vehicles were spotted in the area.

However, the cops stood down, allowing the delegation through.

utusan malaysia 15062011 cartoon hina islam The cartoon, published by Utusan on Wednesday, entitled “Confusion on Rape Cases”, depicts a woman going to a religious cleric to complain of being raped.

He asks whether she has four witnesses to corroborate her claim, to which she replies that she has a recording of the crime in her mobile phone.

The cartoon, then, has the cleric dismissing such equipment as useless evidence, and advises her to drop the claim for lack of the number of witnesses required.

The second strip portrays the complainant lodging her complaint to a police officer.

Asked what evidence she has to support her claim, she tells him about the mobile phone recording in her possession and he is shown  straightaway telling her that such evidence was sufficient to open investigations. 

Utusan confused rape with adultery

After submitting the memorandum on their objections, Nasrudin told reporters that they have issued an ultimatum to the daily to apologise within seven days, as the controversial caricature “mocked Islamic laws”.

“They have confused zina (adultery) and rape. The comparison made in the cartoon is giving out wrong signals and is aimed at being shallow.

NONE Nasrudin said that Utusan is attempting to confuse the public with regards to Islamic legislation.

“If Utusan does not apologise and take the necessary action, we will continue with a series of protests,” warned Nasrudin.

He explained that today’s event was to approach the newspaper’s administration in peace and lay out their grouses.

“However, we will organise a bigger demonstration to attract public attention that we are against the caricature, if our calls are disregarded.

“This is a message to the Utusan and the cartoonist that their action was a big mistake.

“Do not belittle (this issue). It touches on sensitivity of the religion,” he said.

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