I am being persecuted by the media, says Zamihan Mat Zin (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: A leader of a Muslim organisation today claimed that he has been a target of character assassination propagated by the media, a day after his remarks which allegedly insulted the Johor royalty and the Chinese community landed him in hot water.
 
In denying the allegations, Aswaja president Zamihan Mat Zin said he had never mentioned the name of Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a lecture he presented last Sunday over the debacle on a Muslim-only laundrette in Muar.
 
The former Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officer also said he had not used any harsh or seditious words during the lecture, which was recorded on video.
 
He asked media organisations that had reported his speech to retract their articles.
 
"If they failed to do so, I will take legal action against them without prejudice," he said.
 
"I believe this situation was purposely caused to incite hatred on certain parties towards me as I have always criticised some quarters over religious matters," he said in a statement.
 
A video which has since gone viral had shown Zamihan rebuking a "Sultan" for his statement on the Muslim-friendly laundrette which, according to him, had only made the issue bigger.
 
The video, which had been republished by several media organisations, had also shown Zamihan taking a hit at the Chinese community, deeming them dirty as they do not wash up after urinating or defecating.
 
In an immediate response, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the ministry would probe the matter and take immediate action over the speech.
 
Zamihan in the statement said it was impossible for him to utter words degrading or insulting Sultan Ibrahim, but added that he seeks forgiveness if his words had offended the Sultan.