PAS leader blames media for 'confusion' over Gerakan chief snub

STATE POLLS | A Penang PAS leader has blamed the media for purportedly giving rise to “confusion” over an incident where he was caught on camera preventing Gerakan president Dominic Lau from going on stage at a ceramah in Seberang Perai earlier this month.

Specifically, Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim referred to a video shot by KiniTV, claiming that the “angle” had misrepresented the situation between him and Lau, who is contesting in Bayan Lepas, which was initially eyed by PAS.

“As Penangites, it’s normal for us to talk like that.

“But the angle chosen by the journalist made it appear like I was being harsh to Lau,” said Iszuree (above) in a video on Facebook.

Iszuree also accused the journalist who shot the video of trying to take advantage of the situation to hurt his ties with Lau, with whom he had known since their school days.

The video by KiniTV had shown Lau, who was sitting among the crowd and was not invited to attend the ceramah, being prevented by Iszuree from following PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad to the stage.

Iszuree was heard telling Lau, “Those who are not invited, please stay (here).”

When someone in the audience protested, Iszuree replied: “Tak boleh (no you can’t). You (Lau) go away.”

‘It was for his safety’

Iszuree, however, today claimed what transpired was that he tried to explain to Lau the reasons why the PN deputy chairperson was not invited - that the ceramah was held in a Malay-majority majority area where many PAS members in attendance were unhappy with Gerakan’s move to contest Bayan Lepas.

“The members were angry. And so when the members were angry, I advised him (Lau) to not attend. So the situation will remain harmonious,” said Iszuree.

“So what was played up by the media that day, they only ‘cut and paste’ the sensitive parts,” said Iszuree who insisted he was looking out for Lau’s safety in not allowing him to be at the event.

“That is when the journalist who I don’t know came from where, because nowadays many people are using their handphones, they took that short part and made it viral,” he said.

Iszuree as such urged voters to not fall for such alleged tactics by the media to strain ties among them, particularly between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Lau initially denied being booted out of the ceramah and claimed that he left after failing to meet PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan later apologised over the incident, saying as the leader of a PN component party, Lau should be accorded adequate respect.

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Gerakan snubbed at PN ceramah, Penang PAS secretary tells Lau to 'go away'