SLAPPING people over disagreements has become a new norm in Malaysia, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today, referring to his information officer Zaidi Ahmad being slapped outside a mosque yesterday.

The two-term chief minister said no matter what people disagreed about, there should not be any violence.

“You cannot hit someone for whatever reason but it seems that this has become the norm now. When people have disagreements, they hit the other person.

“That is not Malaysia’s culture. That must be some imported culture,” Lim told reporters.

Zaidi was slapped by a protester after he asked Jalinan Muslimin Pulau Pinang chairman Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin to explain the group’s accusations against the Penang government.

Hafiz spoke at the protest after Friday prayers outside the Simpang Enam mosque near Komtar where he accused the state of meddling with fatwa (Islamic edicts). 

Zaidi, who heard the speech, asked Hafiz to answer which fatwa was purportedly blocked by the state. A protester then slapped him. 

Zaidi said he would not lodge a police report, as the assault was carried out by a senior citizen, who was past the age of 60.

Before working for Lim, Zaidi was a Royal Malaysian Air Force major. He gained wide recognition after he lodged a police report over the indelible ink used in the last general election. He was court-martialled for speaking to the media about it and lost his job.

Lim said he had spoken to Zaidi about the incident and was told that the former fighter jet pilot wanted to settle the matter himself.

“He said he was there because he went to pray at the mosque. He told me the incident had nothing to do with his position as a state government officer.

“I respect his decision. So, I leave it to him,” Lim said. – May 27, 2017.