GEORGE TOWN, Jan 20 — A Malay-Muslim coalition today demanded the police explain why Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng did not receive the same attention as a lawyer who accused Islamic authorities of extremism.

Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang coordinator Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin told a press conference this morning that over 25 Muslim NGOs had lodged over 30 police reports against Lim last year for his Allah remark, but the police have not taken any action against him other than opening up investigation papers into the case.

“This is strange as we can see that (Eric) Paulsen was arrested just a few days after he insulted Jakim and yet, Lim has insulted Islam but no action was taken against him at all,” Mohamed Hafiz said in a press conference here this morning.

“We want the Inspector-General of Police to explain why they are giving preferential treatment to Lim by not arresting him or calling him in to be investigated when so many police reports have been lodged against him.”

Last December, Lim courted controversy when he stated there was no ban for non-Muslims in Penang to use the word Allah.

He had backed his statement by pointing out that fatwas and the Administration of Religion of Islam (Penang) Enactment 2004 do no apply on non-Muslims.

He had said this in response to a call by MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker who had demanded that the Selangor and Penang state governments repeal the respective state Islamic religious administration enactments to lift the ban on words like Allah from being used by non-Muslims.

Paulsen allegedly posted on Twitter a remark that read: “Jakim is promoting extremism every Friday. Govt needs to address that if serious about extremism in Malaysia.”

He was arrested Monday last week by between 15 and 20 police officers, before being remanded for two days. He has since been released.