GEORGE TOWN, Sept 12 — DAP’s Lim Guan Eng has sent a letter of demand to Umno’s Mohd Puad Zarkashi and pro-Umno daily Utusan Malaysia over a news report alleging Lim of protecting DAP leaders by trying to stop “Tanda Putera” from being screened in Penang.

The opposition party secretary-general had, through his lawyer Karpal Singh & Co, issued the letter of demand to both parties demanding that they retract their allegations completely and issue an apology.

“We give you this opportunity (to retract and apologise) within seven days from receipt of this notice, failing which our client will initiate legal proceedings against you without further notice,” the letter of demand stated.

Lim (picture), who is also Penang chief minister, told a press conference here today that the Malay daily had once again published defamatory statements against him and his party.

The letter of demand, dated September 9, was in response to an article published by Utusan on September 7 entitled “Cuba sembunyi kebiadaban DAP” (Trying to hide DAP’s rudeness).

In the article, Dr Mohd Puad reportedly accused Lim of trying to stop controversial local film “Tanda Putera” from being screened in Penang as a bid to cover up the insolence of his father and DAP adviser, Lim Kit Siang, for urinating in front of the house of then-Selangor Mentri Besar Harun Idris during the May 13, 1969, race riots.

In his letter of demand, Lim accused Utusan of recklessly, falsely and maliciously publishing Umno supreme councillor, Mohd Puad’s comments in complete disregard for the truth; claiming it to be tantamount to irresponsible journalism as the paper had purportedly not verified the truth of the allegations.

“The movie is a malignant demonisation of DAP leaders and also of the non-Malay communities with no truth to it,” the Ayer Putih state assemblyman said.

He pointed out that a urinating scene in the film never happened in real life but has been used time and again to demonise DAP, its leaders and the non-Malays.

Lim also claimed that the article had caused him serious and irreparable damage to his reputation.

The Bagan MP said he would file a lawsuit against Mohd Puad and Utusan if both failed to retract or apologise for the article and the statements within the article.