PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar today lodged a report with Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) against Utusan Malaysia , alleging the daily had twisted her statements in a forum about Islam.   

 

The Lembah Pantai MP met with Jais director Marzuki Husin and lodged a verbal report against the daily, said Nurul Izzah’s political secretary Fahmi Fadzil when contacted.

 

Hudud forum Nurul Izzah "Nurul Izzah has lodged report against the daily for misrepresenting (her statements), which have been used by other parties to attack her," he said.

 

Nurul Izzah, during her half-hour meeting with Marzuki, also explained that what she said during the forum last Saturday had been twisted, said Fahmi.

With the MP at the meeting with Jais was syariah lawyer Fadhlina Siddiq, he said.

 

Nurul submitted Utusan Malaysia 's report, a copy of an audio cd and transcript of her statement at the forum to Jais as proof, he added.

Fahmi said the question and answer section of the audio was provided by an audience who had attended the forum.

 

She also submitted, for Jais’ reference, a copy of her letter issued by her counsel Hanipa & Associates, which demanded the Malay daily apologise within 48 hours.

No mention of probe on Nurul Izzah

 

However, Fahmi said Marzuki, who was accompanied by three enforcement officers, did not  mention Jais's plan to investigate Nurul, and thus far no officers have as contacted her over the issue.

 

"(Pertaining to Nurul's verbal report,) Jais just said it will come back to her.

 

Last Saturday, Nurul Izzah courted controversy by saying there should be '' no compulsion" in Islam, even for Malays, when replying to a question in a forum.

She, however, had stopped short of saying that Malays should be legally granted religious freedom, adding she was bound by "the prevailing views" on the matter.

The MP later denied that her statement encourages Muslims to renounce Islam ( murtad ).

 

Even so, her statement prompted various Muslim leaders, including politicians from both sides of the divide, to come out either in support or against the PKR vice-president.

azlan Subsequently, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was quoted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) chairperson Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa as having expressed regret over Nurul Izzah's statement.

Four days ago, Marzuki reportedly said that the department would take action against Nurul Izzah if it had more information regarding her statement.

 

Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia , in its headline today, reported Siti Zabedah, a panelist who had posted the controversial question to Nurul at the forum on whether Malays should have religious freedom, has expressed disappointment at Nurul's seemingly 180-degree turn in her stand.

 

The daily quoted online news portal Free Malaysia Today , where Siti Zabedah Kasim insisted Nurul should defends her stand on freedom of religion, instead of retracting her statement.

According to the daily further, Siti had said Nurul didn't spell the word apostasy, and it was clear the answer given supported freedom of religion among Malays.

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