NST gets 24-hour notice on its 'father of kafir' report
PAS Youth today submitted a memorandum to New Straits Times to withdraw and apologise for its May 8 news report quoting former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor calling PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat the "father of kafir".
PAS Youth today submitted a memorandum to New Straits Times to withdraw and apologise for its May 8 news report quoting former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor calling PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat the "father of kafir" .
A 10-member PAS Youth delegation led by its chief Nasruddin Hassan met with officers from NST and its publisher New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) to hand over their memorandum.
“The memorandum addressed to NSTP group editor Abdul Jalil Hamid states that PAS Youth regrets and protests what was written in the article.
“Abdul Rahim has denied calling Nik Aziz as such. We urge the NST to apologise for the news within the 24 hours of this memorandum or PAS Youth will take harder action than this,” Nasruddin says in the memorandum.
Nasruddin would only say that if New Straits Times did not abide by its journalistic ethics and "apologise and withdraw the article after 24 hours, we will hold larger scale protests all over Malaysia".
'Article has created uneasiness'
In the memorandum handed over to NSTP, PAS Youth states that the article ridicules Nik Aziz's stature as a religious figure and Kelantan menteri besar, and this had created uneasiness among the Kelantan people and Malaysian citizens.
“We fear that such resentment will result in unwarranted incidents. Furthermore it will result in Malaysians not believing in the professionalism, quality, integrity, innovation and personal service of NST.
"NST is seen as unprofessional in coming out with such an article, without weighing the good and bad implications.”
“The article and discussions after that will only affect the reputations of Nik Aziz and PAS and it would result in odium and contempt (from the people).
"If indeed NSTP is an independent media and is out to satisfy its customers through a professional workforce, then the daily should apologise,” the memorandum adds.
Nasruddin was accompanied by his deputy Nik Mohamad Abduh, the wing's secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil and other Youth leaders.
