PAS leader demands apology from Utusan
Published: Jun 5, 2009 3:26 AM | Updated: Jun 5, 2009 7:30 AM
PAS vice-president Husam Musa has sought an apology from Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for undermining his chances of winning the deputy president's post in the party polls today.
PAS vice-president Husam Musa has sought an apology from Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for undermining his chances of winning the deputy president's post in the party polls today.
Husam said that the daily - which is owned by PAS rival Umno - had published an article on May 31 in which Husam has been labelled as "an enemy of PAS" who would eventually lead to the destruction of the Islamic party.
He had filed a suit against the daily yesterday after his demand letter was unanswered.
The demand letter sent to Utusan Malaysia by Husam's lawyer Balan Nair Thamodaran on June 2 stated that the article titled 'Menilai Hujah Husam' (Assessing Husam's arguments) implied that Husam:
Husam's lawyer said that the article clearly referred to the PAS vice-president who was characterised as being a member of the so-called ‘professional group' and the ‘Erdogan group'.
"Our further instructions are that the said article was intended to undermine our client's chances at the upcoming election by characterising our client, in essence, as an enemy of PAS," added Balan.
He further said that the article was a personal attack on Husam which went beyond the scope of professional journalism.
‘Ulama in danger'
The article which was carried in Utusan Malaysia's Sunday edition (called Mingguan Malaysia) had, among others, spelt out the dangers which the party would face if it allowed non-ulama from holding party posts.
The article identified the non-ulama as professionals who would one day destroy the party by allowing themselves to be used by outsiders.
The article also warned that if these professionals, also known as the Erdogan faction (after the Turkish reform-minder prime minister), will jeopardise the position of the ulama (conservatives) in the party by implementing the agenda of outsiders.
The timing of the article has come just in time for the party polls, which will be held today.
Husam, who has been the vice-president since 2005, is challenging incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa for the coveted position. The third candidate is another vice-president, Mohammad Sabu.
Nasharuddin (right) is from the ulama camp and has favoured unity talks with Umno for the sake of religion and race. Husam however is seen as a reform-minded professional who can work closely with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition and its leader, Anwar Ibrahim.
In the demand letter, Husam, who is also the Salor state assemblyperson in Kelantan, wants Utusan Malaysia to retract their article and make an apology to him.
He also wants the daily to provide a written undertaking that it would not publish further defamatory articles and pay him compensation.
Failing these, the demand letter had warned that Husam would initiate legal action against the widely-read Malay language daily.
Husam told reporters at the PAS Muktamar today that he had filed the suit yesterday.
Husam said that the daily - which is owned by PAS rival Umno - had published an article on May 31 in which Husam has been labelled as "an enemy of PAS" who would eventually lead to the destruction of the Islamic party.He had filed a suit against the daily yesterday after his demand letter was unanswered.
The demand letter sent to Utusan Malaysia by Husam's lawyer Balan Nair Thamodaran on June 2 stated that the article titled 'Menilai Hujah Husam' (Assessing Husam's arguments) implied that Husam:
- was not loyal to PAS and its ideals,
- was a person who could not be trusted,
- intends to and/or had prejudiced the interest of PAS and/or is otherwise endangering PAS, and
- was an enemy of PAS.
Husam's lawyer said that the article clearly referred to the PAS vice-president who was characterised as being a member of the so-called ‘professional group' and the ‘Erdogan group'."Our further instructions are that the said article was intended to undermine our client's chances at the upcoming election by characterising our client, in essence, as an enemy of PAS," added Balan.
He further said that the article was a personal attack on Husam which went beyond the scope of professional journalism.
‘Ulama in danger'
The article which was carried in Utusan Malaysia's Sunday edition (called Mingguan Malaysia) had, among others, spelt out the dangers which the party would face if it allowed non-ulama from holding party posts.
The article identified the non-ulama as professionals who would one day destroy the party by allowing themselves to be used by outsiders.The article also warned that if these professionals, also known as the Erdogan faction (after the Turkish reform-minder prime minister), will jeopardise the position of the ulama (conservatives) in the party by implementing the agenda of outsiders.
The timing of the article has come just in time for the party polls, which will be held today.
Husam, who has been the vice-president since 2005, is challenging incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa for the coveted position. The third candidate is another vice-president, Mohammad Sabu.
Nasharuddin (right) is from the ulama camp and has favoured unity talks with Umno for the sake of religion and race. Husam however is seen as a reform-minded professional who can work closely with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition and its leader, Anwar Ibrahim.In the demand letter, Husam, who is also the Salor state assemblyperson in Kelantan, wants Utusan Malaysia to retract their article and make an apology to him.
He also wants the daily to provide a written undertaking that it would not publish further defamatory articles and pay him compensation.
Failing these, the demand letter had warned that Husam would initiate legal action against the widely-read Malay language daily.
Husam told reporters at the PAS Muktamar today that he had filed the suit yesterday.
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