SHAH ALAM - Jelutong MP RSN Rayer says DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng is not poisoning the minds of the Chinese in the country, as claimed by the opposition.
Rayer said the opposition party is diverting attention and falsely portraying Lim as someone who intends to poison people's minds.
Rayer further said the news outlet in question has rectified the news report, acknowledging that the initial translation of Lim's statement in the Mandarin-based article was incorrect.
"So it is clear that Perikatan Nasional (PN) is now trying to divert attention and potray Guan Eng as if he is trying to poison the mind of people.
"It is certainly not true, we have lodged police report against the media outlet, I will lodge a report as well," Rayer told Sinar Daily Politically Frank.
A local news portal had quoted a Mandarin-based article reporting Lim warned Penang voters to stop the green wave from stepping foot in the state as it would cause the Buddhist temple to be destroyed and that non-Muslims would face a multitude of restrictions.
On July 10, PN Youth urged Lim to make a public apology and defend himself by lodging a police report over a racial issue which recently surfaced on social media.
PN Deputy Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the statement made by the former Penang chief minister on the destruction of a temple was racist, extreme and prejudice against the PN leadership especially in Kedah.
"What Lim said in his speech delivered in Mandarin is very dangerous to the good relation between races and religions in the country.
"I do not understand why he (Lim) was willing to poison the minds of the Chinese voters and scare them with the green wave," Ahmad Fayhsal said in a press conference.
However, Lim denies releasing a statement claiming the 'green wave' will destroy temples and deny religious rights in Penang.
The former finance minister said his speech in Mandarin was twisted and that some parties wanted to destroy Buddhist or Chinese temples. Lim said he spoke on Hindu temple that was demolished in Kedah in 2020.