PAS will file a lawsuit against Nanyang Siang Pau over a cartoon which depicted the Islamist party's president Abdul Hadi Awang and Dewan Rakyat speaker as monkeys.

In a media statement, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan also urged the Home Ministry to take appropriate action against the Chinese daily and review its printing permit.

“PAS cannot compromise on this matter and will initiate legal action against the party which is responsible. For this, PAS has appointed a lawyer to take legal action immediately,” he added.

Yesterday, Nanyang Siang Pau, which is owned by Sarawak timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King, had apologised for the cartoon and retracted it. 

The cartoon lampooned Hadi and Pandikar and other parliamentarians over the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) issue.

Today, PAS members and supporters protested outside the Chinese daily's office in Petaling Jaya over the cartoon, despite the paper's apology. 

Takiyuddin said Nanyang's move in publishing the caricature was deliberate, and done with the intention to humiliate Hadi and Pandikar. 

The cartoon had also insulted Muslims and Islam, he said.