Three NGO lodge police report against English daily

Three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have lodged a police report against a local English newspaper for publishing the photograph of Muslims performing the ''terawih'' prayers with the headline ''Malaysian Terrorist Leader'' on its front page last Saturday.

The police report was lodged by the President of the Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, Chairman of Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay, and Chairman of the Dewan Ekonomi dan Sosial Malaysia (DESMMA) Mohd Fazil Abdullah.

Amir Amsaa said the report was disrespectful of Muslims in the country and could lead to a misunderstanding of them.

"The decision of the newspaper to publish the report that way showed that they did not respect the guidelines set out by the Home Ministry.

"We hope the ministry will take stern action against the newspaper by suspending its licence temporarily," he told reporters after lodging the report at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters here.

The newspaper published an apology on its website yesterday.

-- BERNAMA