National Malay chamber sec-gen lodges report against Penang official

The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Abdul Rahim Abu Bakar has lodged a police report against Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMPP) president Rizal Faris Mohideen for allegedly threatening him and attempting to assault him at the Penang International Airport last Wednesday.

Abdul Rahim lodged the report at the Selayang police station on Feb 12.

According to the report, Abdul Rahim said that at about 10am on Feb 10, he was with Melaka Malay chamber chairman Datuk Md Ramli Mohamad and Terengganu Malay chamber deputy president Abdul Razak Yaacob at the airport when they bumped into Rizal.

Abdul Rahim said Rizal shouted at them and also used harsh words including "babi, sial, binatang, barua, kurang ajar".

Rizal allegedly warned them to be careful as he was "after them" and tried to hit Abdul Rahim with his hand but was prevented from doing so by Ramli.

"I left the place immediately as I did not want to entertain him, but he told Razak that he
would shoot me and throw his shoes at me at the forthcoming meeting," Abdul Rahim stated.

He said he lodged the report for fear of his, his family's and friends' safety.

Hardly two hours after the alleged incident, Rizal lambasted Abdul Rahim for meeting up with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng behind his back the night before.

At a press conference on Feb 10, Rizal said he had written a strongly-worded letter to the headquarters and to the president, and distanced himself from Abdul Rahim.

He said Abdul Rahim had never set foot in Penang to check out what was actually happening here or the situation of the Malays in Penang.

He also accused Abdul Rahim of seeking cheap publicity for himself and playing politics.

At the conference, Rizal also called Lim a liar, dictator, political reject and
hypocrite, among other names.

The national delegation had met Lim for a dialogue following a flare-up between the DPMPP and Lim's administration.

The DPMPP had accused the state government of neglecting the Malays in
the state, including intensifying enforcement action against Malay traders.

The DPMPP had also mobilised other Malay and Muslim non-governmental
organisations to stage a demonstration against Lim's administration after Friday
prayers on Feb 5.