A POLICE report has been lodged by former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit regarding a misleading and inaccurate news report by an online news portal concerning recent remarks made by national DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng.
The report, published by China Press on July 7, claimed that Lim had alleged that Hindu temples risk being demolished by the ‘green wave’ if it does not like the sight of such temples during the Tian Fu Gong White Dragon King Tour event in Jelutong.
However, MalaysiaNow, in its July 8 translation, cited Lim as allegedly suggesting that Buddhist temples were at risk of destruction if the ‘green wave’ arrives in Penang.
The term ‘green wave’ is used by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to describe Perikatan Nasional (PN) momentum in the general election last year that is dominated by PAS (signature green colour).
However, MalaysiaNow later put an ‘editor’s note’ on the article, where the portal claimed that China Press had amended its quote in the news report to add the word ‘Indian’ before the word ‘temples’ and to remove the word ‘Buddha’.
China Press later on said that MalaysiaNow had inaccurately translated its news report which it insisted did not mention Buddhist temples or Chinese temples at all.
Lee said the article by MalaysiaNow is clear defamation towards Lim as he already admitted he never utter such a statement.
“As a matter of fact, Lim was referring to the Hindu temple, where there was a case of a Hindu temple demolished in 2020 in Kedah.
“He never mentioned Chinese temples or Buddhist temples in his speech. And this can be considered criminal defamation.
“Thus, I hope the police will investigate this matter thoroughly and take the necessary action towards MalaysiaNow and also China Press that have caused this issue,” Lee told a press conference after lodging a report at the northeast district police headquarters in Patani Road today.
Also present was former Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang.