Muslim NGOs want stern action against daily for insulting caricature

GEORGE TOWN: Muslim NGOs in Penang today called upon the Home Ministry to suspend the printing license of Mandarin language daily Nanyang Siang Pau.

The calls comes after the publication published a caricature deemed insulting to Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Nanyang has since withdrawn the caricature and apologised over the incident.

Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang chairman Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin nonetheless said the apology was not enough.

He said stern action should be taken, including for the editor-in-chief to resign, as well as withdrawing the publishing permit.

"Action must be taken," he said in a press conference and urged the media to be responsible for what they publish.

He was accompanied by Gabungan Belia Insan Pulau Pinang chairman Mohamed Nordin Mohamed Nor and Gabungan Perwakilan Melayu Pulau Pinang chairman Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin.

The trio, along with several other members, earlier submitted a memo to the Penang Nanyang bureau at Weld Quay here which was received by advertising manager Beh Sok Hooi.

Among the demands in the six-point memo includes calling for the editor or those responsible for the caricature to be sacked, officially apologising to those in the picture and to apologise to Muslims in Malaysia.