Kit Siang taken to task over statement

New Straits Times
08-31-2000
Kit Siang taken to task over statement
Edition: Main/Lifestyle; 2*
Section: National

PUTRAJAYA, Wed. - Umno Youth today criticised DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang for his statement saying that the movement ought to have a permit before conducting a thanksgiving event at Putrajaya.

The movement's chief Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said that Lim's statement was insulting to Muslims.
"In fact, (Lim's statement) intends to scare other races by speculating that Umno Youth is purposely gathering in a show of protest on the issue of Malay rights," he said in a statement.

Hishammudin's statement was issued to the Press during a break in the thanskgiving event, which took place today without any untoward incident.

Conducted at Dataran Putra near the Prime Minister's Office here, the event was participated by 3,500 Umno Youth members.

Starting with a religious ceramah at the nearby Putra mosque, the celebrations also included a gathering adressed by Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, dinner and evening prayers.

Lim's statement, copies (taken from the Internet) of which were distributed by Umno Youth officials at the site of the event, asked whether Umno Youth was given a permit for the gathering at Putrajaya.

Hishammuddin said the religion-based thanksgiving event was agreed upon by the movement's exco.

(Copyright 2000)