KUALA LUMPUR, July 14
(Bernama) — Social Care Foundation chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang described as
extreme the action by the couple, Tan Jye Yee (Alvin), 25, and Vivian Lee, 24,
in uploading the photograph and caption that touched on the sensitivity of
Muslims in the social website, Face book, Saturday.

Phang, who was
approached by reporters at a media conference at the Jalan Tun Razak Police
Station, today, said the action had offended many Muslims who were now fasting
in conjunction with Ramadan.

“It is not a
healthy thing to do. We should stop such action and not allow it to
happen,” he said.

The couple, who had
previously created controversy over their pornographic video clip in Singapore,
had uploaded a photograph of them eating ‘bak kut teh’ (a pork dish), in the Face
book last Friday with the greeting ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh
…fragrant, delicious and appetising’ together with the ‘halal’ logo.

Meanwhile, several
Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country urged the
government to review the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees to check the abuse of
the social media which was becoming more rampant.

Malaysian Muslim
Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the freedom
of information enjoyed by Malaysians had clearly been abused and could become a
‘poison’ to national prosperity.

“There is a
limitation to everything. Just like food, if it is consumed excessively, it
will certainly cause illness and become toxic,” he said when contacted by
Bernama, here Sunday.

He was commenting on
the action by the couple, Tan and Lee who had uploaded the photograph in the
Face book that offended the Muslims.

Today, another Face
book account had insulted the holy month of Ramadan by posting an advertisement
for the breaking of the fast with the photograph of roasted pork carrying the
‘halal’ logo.

Nadzim said there
was a need to have a ‘checking mechanism’ to replace the Bill of Guarantees to
churn out Malaysians who were more responsible in using the information in the
country.

“It is
acknowledged that there is so much information through the internet and this
can be easily spread compared to the mainstream information media such as the
newspapers, but the responsible party must have a mechanism to stop whatever
information that can offend the other races,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PPIM
will launch a blog that will become the avenue to share information on Islam
including responding to questions on doubts and misperception on Islam.

Two other NGOs,
Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) and the Malaysian Consumers
Development Board (LPPM) lodged police reports against the couple behind the
controversy at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters.

IRIMM president Amir
Amsaa Alla Pitchay said the couple’s action in uploading the photograph had
offended the Muslims and was very rude.

“They have
offended all Muslims in the country for ridiculing the month of Ramadan and as
though Jakim (Islamic Development Department) allows the dish. It can affect
national harmony and create religious tension,” he said.