The Perlis mufti and pressure group Perkasa said The Star ’s apology for publishing a photo offensive to Muslims was unsatisfactory, and wants the government to suspend the paper’s permit pending further investigations.

NONE Mufti Juanda Jaya and Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali in separate statements this morning continued to slam the English daily for the photograph depicting American singer Erykah Badu with the Arabic script ‘Allah’ tattooed on her upper chest.

“I call for the Home and Information Ministries to take the stiffest action against The Star for publishing the photo of Erykah Badu that is extremely offensive to Muslims,” said Juanda.

He said the government should be consistent in handling issues of religious sensitivity.

“I am sure all Malaysians of various religions can recognise the sacred script ‘Allah’. There is no excuse for this being overlooked.

“The apology today in such a tiny column is most inadequate,” said the mufti.

NONE Juanda ( left in photo ) urged the government to suspend the daily pending investigations, and also wanted the concert tomorrow stopped because of “songs that are obscene in nature that will encourage vice and cause immorality”.

(This afternoon, Information, Communications, and Culture Minister Rais Yatim, announced in a tweet that the concert has been cancelled .)

PAS Youth joined the chorus calling for The Star ’s suspension, according to Harakahdaily .

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan shared the same view that The Star ’s apology was insufficient for this was the “umpteenth time they have committed almost the same mistakes”.

“For certain the apology alone is insufficient to heal the wounds of the Muslim community as a result of their repeated insults,” Harakahdaily reported him saying.

Perkasa threatens to act

Perkasa’s Syed Hassan sang the same tune as Juanda, saying they do not accept the apologies that the daily published online last night, and on Page 3 in today’s print edition.

Reprising Juanda’s call for the paper’s suspension, Syed Hassan said, “ The Star has insulted Muslims many times. They need to be punished.”

NONE He alleged that The Star had acted deliberately, and wanted them to receive severest punishment.

“Punish them for not knowing the sensitivities of Muslims... Charge the chief editor. Without stern action, this will happen again,” he said.

Syed Hassan called for a tit for tat, citing the media outcry that followed the Malay rights lobbyist’s ‘white angpow’ fiasco during Chinese New Year.

“Where are they who hammered Perkasa then? They who claim to understand everyone’s customs and taboos, where are they?” he complained.

Calling for all Muslims to boycott the paper “that profits from insulting Muslims”, the group also threatened to act should tomorrow’s concert proceed.

“We cannot allow this concert to go on...Perkasa is planning something. Wait and see what will happen tomorrow,” said Syed Hassan.

star pork photo report 110811 “We have given the warning... Perkasa cannot guarantee that our members will not act beyond the law... if there is no action from the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong said the ministry will serve The Star a show-cause letter and will decide on the next course of action after they have reviewed the reply, according to Bernama yersterday.

The paper has one week to reply to the show-cause letter, said Lee.

Last August, the right-wing Malay group condemned the daily as "an enemy of Islam" over a gaffe where it had accidentally featured pork in its 'Ramadan Delight' special pullout.

The Star has since apologised for the blunder.

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