Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has once again incurred the wrath of the Penang government, this time with quotes from a sacked PAS Penang Island City Council (MBPP) member, Iszuree Ibrahim.

The newspaper quoted Iszuree as saying he was sacked from MPPP for questioning the increase in permit approvals for gambling outlets in the island.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said MBPP would lodge a police report against Utusan and Iszuree for their “malicious lies”.

Lim said the Penang government is not responsible for this as gambling licences are issued by the Finance Ministry.

“Why is it that Utusan cannot understand this up to now? If Iszuree also does not know this, it can only mean he wants to work with Umno, which is why even when the Umno-led federal government issues the licences, he blames DAP and PKR in Penang.

“This is a malicious lie and we will be taking the necessary action. A police report will be lodged by the MBPP,” Lim ( photo ) said at a press conference in George Town today.

“If Iszuree wants to work with Umno, he should do so openly instead of slandering the Penang government. There is no issue here at all. Is he so politically bankrupt that he needs to do this?”

Iszuree, who is state PAS information chief, was sacked last year for criticising the Penang government for its development policies, which he said were no different from the BN government’s, during which Malay villages were affected and villagers were evicted to make way for building projects.

He has since become a critic of the Penang government, especially now after PAS declared itself to be the opposition in the state.

At the same press conference, the state executive councillor overseeing the MBPP, Chow Kon Yeow, said that according to council statistics, only 20 licences were issued to premises along Jalan Penang.

'Iszuree does not speak with facts'

Chow refuted claims by Iszuree that along Jalan Penang alone, there were formerly only 20 entertainment outlets and that there are now 120 applications for such outlets, including from those operating pubs and massage centres along the tourist stretch.

“Not all premises along Jalan Penang are for entertainment outlets. There are shops selling clothes, electronic devices, souvenirs and eateries along the road as well,” he said.

“It is slanderous to say so,” said Chow, who is state DAP chief and Padang Kota assemblyman.

State executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said Iszuree’s remark in Utusan only proved that he does not speak with facts in hand and that he is an “irresponsible” leader.

“He has made other allegations too, including claiming that we want to dismantle loudspeakers for azan in mosques, and now he is making the same allegations about gambling premises,” said Malik, who is PKR Batu Maung assemblyperson.

“Iszuree does not know the facts but wants to spin tales. He is a very irresponsible leader.”

MBPP president Patahiyah Ismail, who was also present at the press conference, confirmed that the city council would lodge a police report against Utusan and Iszuree today.