MHO clueless who wrote racist memo to Istana Negara
Secretary-general Hishamuddin Hashim says president and council members of MHO are still in the dark too.
MHO secretary-general Hishamuddin Hashim told FMT this was a possibility as he had no clue who within the organisation had sent the memorandum, that was purportedly signed by the MHO president, to Istana Negara.
“We have checked with the president and the council members, but they don’t know anything about the memorandum.
“We are still trying to retrieve a copy of the memorandum to see who had signed it.
“A memorandum has to be signed by the president to be considered as representing the MHO.”
MHO president Dr Noorazman Samsuddin had earlier denied any knowledge of the memorandum.
Hishamuddin said he would be consulting Istana Negara to find out who had signed and sent the memorandum.
“There may be others who have used MHO’s name for their own benefit.”
The memorandum, a photograph of which was sighted by FMT, is dated March 20 and addressed to the palace, purportedly from the MHO.
The memorandum, which also claims to represent several other NGOs, appealed to Istana Negara to appoint Customs Department deputy director-general (Customs and GST) Zulkifli Yahya as the next director-general of the department instead of Customs Department deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance) Subromaniam Tholasy.
It said Zulkifli was the better candidate to replace Customs director-general Khazali Ahmad because the interests of Muslims in Malaysia would be “cared for and guaranteed” if he was in charge.
“Furthermore, matters involving religion or public welfare can be discussed in a harmonious atmosphere.
“Islamic agendas will indirectly be protected and guaranteed for the years to come, and subsequently the people of Malaysia can be developed,” the memorandum said.
When contacted on Wednesday, Hishamuddin confirmed the organisation had delivered the memorandum.
“Actually, this memorandum is from several NGOs, including Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM). We delivered it, but we did it privately,” he told FMT.
When pressed for further comments, Hishamuddin said he would have to first speak with a PPIM representative.
However after looking into the matter, Hishamuddin sent a message to FMT denying the memorandum in question was from the MHO.
A Malay Mail Online report yesterday quoted an Istana Negara spokesman acknowledging receipt of the memorandum.
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“Officials from Istana Negara received the memorandum from MHO. We cannot comment on the content, but we received the memorandum,” said the spokesman.