Popular DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim today hit out at MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek for making a "religiously discriminatory remark" over the Chinese radio station 988 issue.

Jamaluddin, or better known as Jamal among the Chinese community, has demanded an apology and clarification from Chua, for asking him to be more responsible as a Muslim over the issue.

NONEIn a statement issued today, Jamal (left), who is fluent in Mandarin, questioned Chua's motive for dragging his religion into the controversy.

"Chua had openly made a religiously discriminatory remark. I hope he can clarify and apologise," he said

He also urged the MCA chief to stand behind the 988 radio station - which is owned by the Chinese-based party - and its million-strong audience of the Hi Malaysia programme.

"As Chua had clarified earlier, I have met him once in his office on May 3 this year. In the 45-minute meeting, Chua had promised at least five times that he won't interfere in the radio's affairs and would respect press freedom.

"I hope he can keep his promise and I thank him for his clarification to the media."

Storm in teacup after all

Chua had clarified on Friday that he only met Jamal once after he was elected as a MCA president.

He had also said that Jamal should be more responsible as a Muslim and should not mislead the people during the holy month of Ramadan.

NONEOnline newsportal Merdeka Review had earlier quoted Jamal as saying that Chua (right) met him five times.

However, Jamal later cleared the air with the portal that Chua did not meet him that many times, but instead promised five times not interfere with press freedom at that meeting.

The newsportal had since corrected the news and apologised to Chua, Jamal and its readers.

He hopes that "certain" people should not turn a press freedom issue into one of race or religion.

How ‘racism', ‘racial politics' can morph

Hi Malaysia is broadcast Monday to Friday from 8.10am to 10am. It is hosted by two permanent DJs -Jamaluddin and Qiu Yue and another, who is a rotating host.

It provides the public with the opportunity to call in and air their views on various current issues and is well-received by the Chinese community.

It is learnt that 988 chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong were suspended on Tuesday evening by its immediate owner, Star RFM Sdn Bhd.

The duo were suspended pending an internal investigation into the suspension of Jamaluddin.

Jamaluddin was asked to go on leave after the radio station's management received a letter from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

According to the letter, Jamaluddin and the Hi Malaysia programme were suspected of "threatening national security" and "compromising race relations".

Malaysiakini has learnt that the complainant had alleged that the live programme violated the laws by airing certain words like "racism" and "racial politics".

However, sources claimed the radio station confined its discussions to racism and racial politics in Malaysia, and had nothing to do with racist remarks.

Some of the offending quotations were "Malaysia, besides racism, still has racial politics" and "I feel that racist issue happens more frequently in the government sector more than in the private sector".

Sources also pointed out that the DJs or public did not use the word "racism" but the complainant had translated "racial discrimination" into "racism".