Questions have arised as to whether Penang opposition leader Jahara Hamid really asked for the Taoist shrine in Armenian Park to be “demolished".

Yesterday, Jahara denied that she said the word, while Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng insisted that she implied it when she questioned the existence of the small shrine in the public park.

Today, Lim handed over copies of the Hansard to reporters, and underscored the portion of Jahara’s remarks related to the shrine.

Lim pointed to the part where Jahara said “Kalau boleh compound spirit ini tak usah la bubuh kerana ianya akan menjadi tempat sembahan kerana orang Islam tak akan pergi sembah tapi kita takut yang orang yang tak faham tu.” (If possible there is no need for the compound spirit because it will become a place of worship as Muslims will not worship it but there will be people who will not understand).

“She had said it was not necessary to put it there. What does it mean if not demolished?” Lim asked at a press conference at the Penang legislative assembly building today.

“It is clear that she does not want the compound spirit, a shrine in place for 70 years, to be there,” he said.

“The shrine is taken care by the local people, if it is not been cared for, it would not continue to be there.

“Jahara does not respect freedom of religion,” Lim added.

He also pointed out that while he was arguing on the matter with Jahara in the state assembly sitting yesterday, no one from Umno stood up to defend the Telok Ayer Tawar assemblyperson.

He asked if the eight assemblypersons - except for Pulau Betong representative Muhammad Farid Saad - who witnessed the argument, supported Jahara in her views.

“If they do not support, it is better for Jahara to withdraw her remarks because it has touched on the sensitivities of others,” Lim said.

“How about the stand of BN Penang on the matter? It cannot keep silent on the matter,” he added.

Lim urged all quarters to remain calm on the matter as this was merely “a tasteless remark which is inappropriate and irrational” by Jahara.

Instead of withdrawing the comment, she had surprisingly dragged him into it as well by asking him to withdraw remarks against her.

“This shows she acknowledges that she is wrong; this is her own mistake; don’t blame others for it, do not blame the media for reporting her remarks,” Lim said.

“If she does not withdraw her offending remarks, MCA will use it to continue to attack me.”