A PENANG opposition backbencher was told off by some government reps when she raised religious and eviction issues at the state legislative assembly today.

Nor Hafizah Othman (Permatangan Berangan-BN) said “it is as if Islam is being bullied by Pakatan Harapan”, citing cases of insults against the Prophet Muhammad and the cross lighting issue at an apartment in Penang as examples.

She said such activities should be monitored by the authorities to ensure that everyone respected each others’ faiths.

Government rep M. Satees (Bagan Dalam-PH) interrupted the Umno assemblywoman, saying she should not blame the government, adding that such incidents were not new and that non-Muslim religions had also been insulted.

Satees also pointed out that some of the insults made against the Prophet were the doings of Muslims themselves.

“Don’t make it seem like Islam and Muslims are under siege under the PH administration,” the DAP assemblyman said.

“That is the bad perception created by some extreme forces that cannot accept a new Malaysia.”

Satees also pointed out to Hafizah that it is the PH federal government that is saving Tabung Haji, which had lost billions of ringgit under the former Barisan Nasional administration.

“Billions are now injected into the pilgrim’s fund. So don’t repeat the bad perceptions created by those extreme forces,” he said.

While Hafizah did not mention Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, her words echoed the mufti’s in claiming that Muslims are being bullied under PH.

She said she was not accusing the Penang government, but merely citing previous incidents to make her point that all faiths must be respected.

Hafizah then riled up another government rep when she talked about the widely publicised Taman Manggis public housing flat eviction issue early last month.

The state housing department had evicted several tenants for failing to pay rent and for violating regulations, which caused them to lose their eligibility to stay at the government-owned flats meant for the poor.

The residents, including women and children, staged a protest and slept outside Komtar, where the state government offices are located, for several days.

The issue became highly politicised, giving Umno, PAS and Malay groups critical of PH the opportunity to attack the DAP-led administration.

State welfare exco Phee Boon Poh told Hafizah not to mislead the House and to check her facts.

He said the state government, through its agencies, offered temporary housing for the evicted tenants but the offer was turned down.

“I personally arranged to have two rooms ready at Anjung Singgah (shelter for the homeless) for a mother and her children. 

“You should check your facts,” an annoyed Phee said. – April 30, 2019.