Locals and stall-holders at the food court where a man supposedly burned pages from the Quran have confirmed that the incident did not happen, according to the DAP parliamentary leader.

He said these are the findings of his fact-finding mission there, together with other representatives from DAP and PAS, at the Taman Anggerik food court in Alor Setar.

Previously, former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mashitah Ibrahim had claimed at the Umno general assembly last week that a man of Chinese ethnicity was there burning the Quran page-by-page as part of a prayer ritual.

Mashitah did not specify the exact location apart from that it took place in Kuala Kedah, a district that is next to Alor Setar.

However she is widely believed to be referring to an incident in Taman Anggerik on Nov 20, which is near the city limits and close to Kuala Kedah.

“In our conversation with the stall-holders and the people in the area, it was confirmed that Mashitah was guilty of a heinous hate speech,” Lim said, in a statement today, “by fabricating the dangerous lie in a multi-racial and multi-religious society that the Chinese community in the area had burnt the Quran ‘page by page during a prayer ritual’.

He added that the accounts of the locals corroborated Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir’s ( left ) statement on Nov 24 that the incident had actually involved a mentally-ill Malay man who has since been detained in a psychiatric ward.

Mukhriz had also said that no burning has taken place, and the man had only torn the Quran. His statement was made two days before Mashitah made her controversial speech.

Others who were with Lim during the fact-finding mission were Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, DAP assistant organising secretary Vincent Wu, Derga assemblyperson Tan Kok Yew, Kota Darul Aman assemblyperson Teoh Boon Kok @ Teoh Kai Kok, Kuban Rotan assemblyperson Mohd Nasir Mustafa, and Lim’s political secretary Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, according to Lim’s statement.

Previously when quizzed about Mukhriz’s clarification, Mashitah had told Malaysiakini, “You have to check with him (Mukhriz).

“My version is based on what was informed to me by Kuala Kedah Wanita chief (Noor Hasita Mat Isa).”

Inaction from Zahid lamented

Meanwhile, Lim lamented the inaction from Umno’s leadership, and said he will seek an explanation from Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi if there is still no action after 20 days since DAP representatives lodged a police report against Mashitah over her statements.

Previously, Zahid (right) had vowed that once police reports are lodged against an individual for impinging on sensitive issues, the police will begin investigations immediately - within 24 hours if possible.

Lim said by remaining silent, Umno’s leadership is aiding and abetting “misdeeds” like Mashitah’s.

“How many ‘24 hours’ will Zahid need before the police would act on the numerous police reports which had been lodged against Mashitah and Zaidi? 48 hours, 96 hours, 240 hours or 480 hours?

“I will give Zahid 480 hours or 20 days till Dec 18 before I ask to meet him to find out why he is unable to fulfil his public oath that the police will start investigations within 24 hours of a report lodged against any individual who impinged on a sensitive issue,” he said.

Yesterday, the police had interviewed a Malaysiakini journalist and an editor over the news portal’s report on Mashitah’s speech, in connection to the police reports lodged against her.

The case is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code for racial incitement.

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