Hadi's son-in-law demands apology from Sim

Summary

• Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharudin Muhammad sends a letter of demand to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for allegedly defaming him.

• This is over Sim’s criticism of Zaharudin’s controversial Facebook post, where he painted a racist dystopia on the appointment of the army’s first Chinese lieutenant general.

• Zaharudin, the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, also challenges Sim to a debate.

PAS leader Zaharudin Muhammad has initiated legal action against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for allegedly slandering him.

This was in regard to a statement made by Sim last week, where the DAP deputy secretary-general criticised Zaharudin’s controversial remarks about the promotion of the army’s first Chinese lieutenant general.

According to a video posted on Zaharudin’s Facebook account, the Sungai Buloh PAS division chief is demanding an apology from Sim for accusing him of insulting the armed forces.

“... if you want to discuss (about the alleged) insult against the armed forces, I have never said that. Those were your words.

“The armed forces are our military, which we must defend. I did not make any statement or utter any word that insulted the armed forces as you have claimed.

“So, I will see you in court. Unless you want to apologise as per the letter of demand that I am sending to you,” he said.

The video was taken yesterday evening when Zaharudin went to the Bukit Mertajam MP’s service centre in Penang to serve the letter to Sim.

However, the office was closed for the day, to the PAS leader’s dismay.

Malaysiakini learned that the service centre was closed as its staff members were attending the funeral of Sim’s grandfather.

Zaharudin, who is PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son-in-law, also challenged Sim to a debate on the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Malaysiakini has contacted the minister’s aides to get his comment on the letter of demand and the debate challenge.

‘Malaysia’s 50th prime minister’

In a Facebook 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.

Following this, Sim had issued a statement slamming the PAS leader, including saying Zaharudin not only questioned Lim’s appointment but had also undermined the armed forces and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s trust in the general.

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