Penang Umno and two media groups have been warned that they will be held responsible for the personal and public safety of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, if they continue to “lie” about a plot of land for a mosque in Bayan Mutiara.

NONE Lim's political secretary Zairil Khir Johari (left) said in a statement that the CM's safety cannot be treated lightly, as Malay rights pressure group Perkasa has threatened to confront Lim personally.

Penang Umno leaders have also engaged in "violent and hate-filled" language against Lim, he claimed.

"These lies have been repeatedly played up on television and in the BN-controlled press to create hatred against non-Malays and non-Muslims, as well as against Lim personally," he said.

"Such lies ... cannot be lightly dismissed as some stupid April Fool’s joke.”

He was referring to Perkasa’s rally last Friday to submit an ultimatum to Lim, giving him a week to explain the "sale or disappearance" of the land.

Zairil said he was informed that the group - led by state Perkasa Youth chief Risuan Azuddin - had "behaved in a very crude and violent manner" and had threatened to confront Lim personally if clarification is not received.

NONE Zairil urged the police to take note of Umno's action, describing this as "exploiting religion" to endanger Lim's personal and public safety.

He also said that, although Lim has refuted the allegations, Utusan Malaysia and TV3 have refused to publish the denial and, instead, have consistently highlighted the claims against Lim.

"Many Muslims are very disturbed by these lies ....and have approached Lim personally for clarification. They were shocked (to realise) that these were bare-faced lies by Umno ...

“Such racial and religious lies against a non-Malay and non-Muslim leader like Lim are sinful and unacceptable because this puts Lim in personal danger, (according to) these Muslims.”

‘Replace the land’

Penang Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin, who has been most vocal in criticising Lim, thanked the CM for his clarification that the land in Bayan Mutiara had been sold to Ivory Properties Bhd without sub-divisions for a mosque and school.

NONE "The CM should have asked a state agency - the Penang Development Corporation - to sub-divide the plots for the mosque and school based on the layout plan approved by the local council in 2006," he said when contacted.

"The reserved land should have been transfered to relevant authorities, such as the state Islamic Affairs Council or Education Ministry, before the rest was sold to Ivory Properties.”

Shaik Hussein urged Lim to replace the land by providing at least 2ha for the mosque and 4ha for the school, to "cool down" the issue.

Lim has decided to initiate legal action against the Shaik Hussein, the Bagan Umno Youth chief, for allegedly inciting racial sentiments to slander him and the state government.