SNAPSHOT | PMO: North-South Expressway widening project letter is fake; minister pans Umno leader's joke

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

6pm

PMO

- The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has denied issuing a purported letter claiming that the cabinet had approved a private finance initiative project to widen the North-South Expressway.

The PMO said the July 17 letter was fake and stressed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had neither issued nor signed it, Bernama reported.

“The PMO has lodged a police report over the forgery of the document, misuse of the prime minister’s name and the PMO’s official identity.

“Appropriate legal action will be taken against any party found to be involved,” it said, adding that the public should not be deceived by or circulate the forged document.

Controversial ‘joke’

Jokes that mock, insult or demean others are prohibited in Islam, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan.

He was responding to the controversy over Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said’s sexually suggestive joke involving a Catholic priest and nun at the party’s recent general assembly.

“Leaders should elevate mature discourse focused on national development and strengthening unity, rather than resorting to sexually suggestive jokes, particularly those touching on the sensitivities of other religious institutions,” Zulkifli (above) said, as quoted by NST.

Zulkifli also cited Verse 11 of Surah Al-Hujurat, which prohibits believers from ridiculing, insulting, or calling others by offensive names.

Noorazli has since apologised, although several parties questioned his sincerity. National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang has also called for the authorities to investigate the remarks.

READ MORE: Catholic 'joke': Sepang Umno chief hits back at DAP, defends apology

Court

- A cleaning company supervisor from Johor Bahru was charged at two Sessions Courts and a Magistrate’s Court with three counts of robbing Rohingya refugees and one count of injuring another man.

According to Harian Metro, Haziq Rizar, 26, was charged with robbery under Section 392 of the Penal Code and separately under Section 323 of the Penal Code for intentionally injuring another Rohingya man near a Taman Perling playing field on Sept 9.

He was alleged to have robbed three UNHCR cardholders of items including motorcycle keys, a grass cutter, a UNHCR card and a tree branch cutter in Taman Perling on Aug 26 and Sept 9. Haziq pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The courts granted him bail totalling RM16,000 and fixed Oct 8 and Oct 28 for mention.

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