Media statement (2) by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 19^th May 2011: 

Datuk Paul Low, President of Transparency International Malaysia, has recently come forward to state clearly and unequivocally that there was no pact or pledge between Christian and DAP leaders 

Datuk Paul Low, President of Transparency International Malaysia, has recently come forward to state clearly and unequivocally that there was no pact or pledge between Christian and DAP leaders, or anyone else for that matter, on the evening of May 5 or at any other time during the Unashamedly Ethical Conference in Penang.

As an invited guest speaker, he was a witness to the entire night's proceedings, and as an upstanding man of the community and president of the anti-graft body Transparency International Malaysia, he is as reliable a witness as any.

Therefore, this confirms that the seditious report carried by Utusan on its front-page entitled 'Kristian Agama Rasmi' that claimed a conspiracy between Christians and the DAP to replace Islam with Christianity as the official religion and to install a Christian Prime Minister is nothing more than an unsubstantiated and malicious lie.

In light of Datuk Paul Low's statement, the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein must now take firm action against the UMNO-owned paper, which has so far been let off with a measly warning letter.

Such a light action does not befit the severity of the transgression, as the Utusan's irresponsible reporting has caused much confusion and incited racial and religious misgivings amongst Malaysians. Most notably, it was the catalyst for Ibrahim Ali's call for a crusade or holy war against Christians. I am sure that anyone would agree the repercussions have been extremely damaging to the fabric of Malaysian society.

Therefore, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin has no choice but to initiate stern and severe action on the newspaper, so as to send a clear signal that the BN Government upholds their supposedly 1Malaysian spirit of peace and harmony across all races and religions.

It is only by taking a firm stand and meting out appropriate punishment to the Utusan Malaysia, would Malaysians be able to close this sorry chapter and move forward together in peace and harmony.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan