PAS wants the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to take immediate action against the operator of pro-Pakatan Harapan (PH) news portal Harapan Daily following the publication of a defamatory report against Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Central PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said, such action is required to curb the news portal from reporting on matters related to 3Rs, namely religion, race and the royal institution.
For context, Sultan Abdullah was saddened and disappointed by a report entitled “Sultan Pahang Beri Amaran Terhadap Amalan Bawaan PAS” (Pahang Sultan Warns Against the Practice of PAS) that was published on March 22.
His highness regarded the report as slanderous and could have negative implications which could lead to an atmosphere of disharmony in the community, according to the Pahang Palace Comptroller l Maj Gen Datuk Mohamed Zahari Datuk Yahya.
“His highness insisted that his decree during the Maran District Development Briefing session at the Chenor Agricultural Academy was not what was reported by the news portal,” read the statement issued by the Pahang Palace yesterday (March 31).
“The statement by His highness was not directed at any political party and was general. It serves the purpose of reminding that the mosque which is a place of worship for Muslims, should always preserve the sanctity of Islam.”
As such Sultan Abdullah who is the immediate past Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) has reminded all media practitioners – both print and electronic media – to check and peruse each piece of news before making interpretations that could deviate or stray from the true meaning.
“Journalistic ethics must be adhered to at all times,” he reminded.
In a related development, PAS Youth information chief Khairul Nadzir Helmi Azhar claimed that Harapan Daily often releases statements mixed with slander to pit PAS with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, thus giving the Islamist party a bad image.
“Accordingly, a police report will be made against the Harapan Daily to protect the sanctity of the royal institution of which has been used as a breeding ground for slander by the news portal, not to mention during this holy month of Ramadan,” he pointed out in a statement yesterday (March 31).
Meanwhile, a check on the said article on the Harapan Daily news site found that it has been pulled down. – April 1, 2024
