Hadi's son-in-law warns legal action, Sim says 'bring it on, racist'

Summary

• Zaharudin Muhammad is threatening legal action against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim and World of Buzz over claims he made a "racist post."

• UPDATED 12.50PM | Sim doubles down following Zaharudin’s warning to sue, saying he’s ready for a court battle.

• PAS leader says he had deleted his original controversial post, not out of fear but due to hostile "cyber troopers."

PAS leader Zaharudin Muhammad has threatened legal action against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim and a social news site for allegedly twisting his recent controversial “racist” remarks.

However, Sim was unperturbed by the warning from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son-in-law, saying he was up for a court battle.

This came after Zaharudin received backlash over an online post likening the country’s immigration policies to the Zionist settlement of Palestine, warning it could one day lead to a non-Malay becoming prime minister.

The Sungai Buloh PAS division chief said he deleted his original post not out of fear of legal consequences, but because he had not monitored its traction and had noticed a flood of hostile comments, which he attributed to “cyber troopers.”

“I am now re-uploading the original image from my post for reflection, because I deleted it not out of fear, but to wipe out the cyber troopers who work only to distort the truth, not seek it.

“I will also consult with my lawyer to consider legal action against portal World of Buzz for spinning my original post, and I will also discuss with my lawyer whether there is room to take legal action against Sim,” he said on Facebook last night.

In his original post, which was later deleted, Zaharudin had penned a hypothetical scenario set in 2058 where a Chinese individual from Kampung Sungai Baru - now a Malay enclave - is appointed as Malaysia’s 50th prime minister.

He also attached a screenshot of a news article regarding the armed forces’ promotion of Malacca-born Johnny Lim from major general to lieutenant general, but insisted there was no link between the two.

Sim: I will not back down

In an immediate response, Sim doubled down on his criticism of Zaharudin, accusing the PAS leader of stoking racial sentiments over Lim’s appointment.

"Zaharudin was the one who incited racial sentiment by exploiting Lim’s image. In fact, his own party admitted that its members had acted in such a manner.

"I merely spoke out against that racist act and defended the armed forces. And now, you're taking legal action against me?

"I will not back down from confronting this PAS leader who is being racist, discriminatory, and insulting towards our soldiers,” Sim said.

“If I am to be sued for defending multiracial harmony and the armed forces’ dignity, then I am ready! I await the legal letter from his lawyer," the DAP deputy secretary-general added.

‘Vile, racist, seditious’

Yesterday, Sim had urged for firm legal action against the “vile, racist, seditious, and treasonous statement” as a warning to all politicians to never play with the fire of racial provocation.

Zaharudin today accused Sim and other critics of misrepresenting his post due to political bias, claiming they interpreted his comments based on preconceived notions of his opposition to the “Malaysian Malaysia” concept.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has since declared that Zaharudin’s remarks do not represent the party’s official stance.

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