Police today recorded a statement from Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to help in investigation on the alleged false tweet on the ban on the use of outside loudspeakers at mosques and surau except for the azan (call to prayers) and iqamah (second call to prayer).

North east district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said the police conducted an investigation after receiving a report from Lim's assistant who claimed that the twitter of the chief minister had been falsified.

"My officer took down the statement of the chief minister at his office at 4.45pm today. The investigation was conducted under Section 500 of the Penal Code," he said when contacted in George Town.

The tweet on the matter emerged in picture form and became viral on Facebook and Twitter since Oct 2.

The tweet, using Lim's name, was written with the statement: "Ban on loudspeakers at mosques & surau in Penang is finalised. Those who disagree are not qualified to stay in this state. Please get out!"

Meanwhile, Lim when met after giving his statement at Komtar, hoped the police could investigate and take quick action against the irresponsible individual or parties for creating the slander.

"It is a defamation to create hatred against me and between races and religions so that there is chaos in Penang.

"I feel the people understand when I made a statement that it is not true. They also do not want to be hoodwinked by this malicious sentiment. I feel the effort to politicise the issue has failed," he said.

The ban on the use of loudspeakers was stated via a Penang mufti office letter dated Sept 1 following the decision of a meeting of the Penang fatwa council on July 1 and 2.

According to the ban, only the use of internal loudspeakers was allowed for mosque and surau programmes and activities, except for azan and iqamah.

- Bernama