The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has been instructed to investigate claims related to the controversial apartment building in Jelutong which displays a cross when its lighting is turned on.

This comes after PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan accused one of the founders of the apartment's developer - Nova Mulia Development Sdn Bhd - to be involved in a US-based Christian business group.

Asked to comment about the matter today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow replied, "The state exco will direct MBPP to investigate."

An MBPP spokesperson told Malaysiakini that the building was only 80 percent completed.

"We have instructed the developer to resolve this issue before the building is completed," said the MBPP official who requested anonymity.

According to Nasrudin, the founder and managing director of Nova Mulia was actively involved in the Nehemiah Project promoting a Christian-based agenda.

On its website, the Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM), which is headquartered in the state of Oregon, USA, describes itself as a business development and support organisation through “biblical entrepreneurship" training, coaching and access to capital.

"(Our mission is to) transform the marketplace with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ one entrepreneur at a time. Our ultimate goal is to create a community of Kingdom business stewards that provide God-honouring products and services in a God-honouring way, and are contributing to fulfilling the Great Commission," reads the description.

Chow Kon Yeow

Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy chided PAS for “going berserk" over the issue and saying the developer had such strong evangelical leanings that it was emboldened enough to display the lighting in the shape of a cross.

"Coming from PAS or from Umno, this is nothing surprising because having failed politically they are ready to clutch at straws to stir up racial and religious feelings in the country," Ramasamy said.

He also said developers in Penang should have some "ethical and social responsibilities" and urged the developer of the controversial apartment building to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

"Do not give an opportunity for troublemakers to make a political issue out of something which is of no serious concern to Malaysians.

"Too much time is wasted in debating or arguing about matters that are very pernicious and disintegrative in nature," Ramasamy said. 

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