Well, Malaysiakini report says that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied a report in Utusan Malaysia today that the state had established an inter-faith council last year.

“These are lies…we have no such council,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

Thus, his lawyers will be file a defamation suit against the daily.

“And if they have any evidence of us setting up such a council, then bring it to the court,” he said.

The paper published the news on front page today:

Utusan Malaysia today published a front-page lead stating that the DAP-run government in Penang was insulting Islam with the setting up of the inter-faith council.

The daily quoted the Penang Islamic Council chief Shabudin Yahaya as saying that the inter-faith council must not be allowed to be established as it would place Islam on par with the other religions.

This, said Shabudin, was an insult to Islam.

The daily said that the inter-faith council was headed by Lim and three-Malay members as well.

Original Malay version:

DAP hina Islam?

Oleh HASNURUL MOHAMED
utusanpenang@utusan.com.my

NIBONG TEBAL 23 Feb. – Penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama oleh kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang mesti dihentikan kerana ia meletakkan Islam sama taraf dengan agama-agama lain.

Yang Dipertua Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang (MAINPP), Shabudin Yahaya berkata, cubaan menyamakan Islam dengan fahaman agama lain ternyata menghina Islam dan tindakan seperti itu mesti dihentikan.

Katanya, MAINPP berasa cukup tersinggung apabila ada beberapa ahli jawatankuasa (AJK) majlis tersebut terdiri daripada orang Melayu.

‘‘Saya difahamkan ada tiga orang AJK Melayu beragama Islam duduk dalam majlis tersebut yang kononnya mahu menuntut kesamarataan agama.

‘‘Ini sesuatu yang cukup menakutkan kerana agama Islam dipandang sama seperti Buddha yang diasaskan oleh manusia bernama Gautama Buddha, disamakan juga dengan Kristian, Taoism dan Bahai,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika diminta mengulas ucapannya semasa majlis penyerahan Dana Zakat Program Didik Cemerlang Akademik 2009 di Sungai Dua di sini semalam.

Ketika berucap pada majlis tersebut, Shabudin melahirkan rasa kurang senangnya terhadap penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama Pulau Pinang yang bertujuan meletakkan semua agama, termasuk agama Islam sebagai sama rata dengan agama-agama lain.

Majlis tersebut ditubuhkan tahun lalu iaitu selepas kerajaan pakatan pembangkang yang diterajui Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng mula memerintah negeri itu.

Majlis itu dipengerusikan Guan Eng sendiri. Mengulas lanjut, Shabudin yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Permatang Berangan, Tasek Gelugor berkata, agama Islam itu tinggi dan tidak ada yang lebih tinggi daripadanya.

Looking through my archives, I found that Guan Eng did mention setting up a council, but the name is different:

We have also formed an inter-religious council called Majlis Silaturahim to promote goodwill and understanding among all religions

Its from the Star article dated 23 June 2008.

Is there a difference between “inter faith council” and “inter-religious council”, or in Utusan’s report “Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama” which translates to inter-religious consultation council”?

BTW, isn’t the Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang under Penang state government authority?

Any comments?