'Umno preventing Chinese from learning about Islam'

Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming has regarded the police reports lodged against him for using Quranic verses at a ceramah in Bukit Gantang last Saturday, as baseless.

"Islam is Malaysia's official religion while the Quran contains invaluable knowledge. The Quran teaches mankind to be fair and compassionate," he said.

At least four non-governmental organisations made police reports against Nga yesterday for allegedly debasing Islam by using Quranic verses at the political ceramah.

Among other reasons contained in the police reports, they said Nga had crossed the line as Quranic verses could not be used in such a manner by non-Muslims who did not believe in Allah.

BN has run out of ideas

"I am disappointed that Umno and Barisan Nasional are trying to prevent the Chinese from learning about Islam,” the DAP leader was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"This shows that BN has run out of ideas and has resorted to dirty tactics to distort facts. I want to make it clear that the DAP respects all religions, including Islam.

"Tok guru Nik Aziz (Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS' spiritual leader) had also explained to me that it was not wrong for me to quote verses from the Quran," he added.

Nga also hit out at some mainstream newspapers for errors in their news reports on the issue and had not sought clarification from him.

"I had learned and used verse No. 90 in Surah (Chapter) Al Nahl, but they said I had quoted from Surah Aura. This is wrong," he said.