KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 ― Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has backpedaled less than 24 hours after initially defending her wing’s move to prohibit non-Muslim journalists from covering a function on Islam, saying now that an internal investigation will be launched.
Mas Ermieyati told broadcaster Astro Awani today that Puteri Umno never intended to prevent any media from covering the event called “Daulatkan Islam Agama Negara” (DIAN) [Upholding the Sovereignty of Islam as the National Religion], despite reportedly saying last night that the programme was exclusive to Muslims.
“It is a Puteri event, why would we want to limit the media coverage? In fact, I want more coverage in order to increase the exposure of the DIAN squad,” Mas Ermieyati was quoted saying.
The Masjid Tanah MP also reportedly claimed she was unaware that the event coordinator issued an order to prohibit non-Muslim journalists from covering the function.
“However, do not get me wrong, the order given should not be done in the manner, based from the reports made by several media. For that, I would like to offer my apologies to the members of the media who were affected by this miscommunication,” she was quoted saying by Astro Awani.
New Straits Times Online reported Mas Ermieyati yesterday as defending Puteri Umno’s decision to only allow Muslim journalists to cover DIAN.
“As we all know, DIAN is a programme to protect the sovereignty of Islam and the country. So, it is exclusive to Muslim leaders and members. That is all,” she reportedly said in the NST report.
