Hannah Yeoh alleges an article based on her book Becoming Hannah is defamatory in nature.
- Report lodged against UUM lecturer, 16 news publications and blogs
- Allegations of Yeoh mixing politics with her Christian faith
- Lecturer claims has proof of Yeoh’s purported Christianisation agenda
Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeoh has lodged a police report against Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff and websites which published allegedly defamatory statements against her and the DAP regarding their purported Christianisation agenda.
The article accusing Yeoh of being a “hypocrite” and using religion as part of DAP’s propaganda campaign was first uploaded on Kamarul’s Facebook page and has been used by DAP’s critics to attack her and the party as well as having gone viral.
The Subang Jaya assemblyperson claimed that the article by Kamarul based on her book Becoming Hannah is defamatory in nature. Published in 2014 and officially launched in 2015, the book is available for sale in major bookstores.
Besides accusing Yeoh of mixing politics with her Christian faith, Kamarul further alleged in his essay that this was so despite DAP being at the forefront in championing secularism.
According to FMT news portal, Yeoh claimed that 16 others, including news publications such as Utusan Malaysia and Harakah Daily, and several blogs had carried the defamatory remarks.
She refuted all accusations and claimed that she had never let her religion influence her political career negatively.
When questioned over the excerpts from her book Kamarul had cited to highlight his point, Yeoh said that the book Becoming Hannah was not political in nature.
“I’m very transparent, clear about my thoughts and personal journey (in the book). There are no political strategies inside,” she said.
“I was sharing my journey and it was not easy. I was a nobody. But if you want to twist, you can take any angle to twist.
“He quoted things like fundraising and getting money from Christians, and all that. I explained it in my political campaigns, people gave me donations, so I shared what happened,” she told FMT.
Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen, who was present, pointed out that Yeoh had never once preached Christianity in all the years he had known her.
“She doesn’t even pray before or after a speech. You’re picking on the wrong person,” Wong said.
In a statement she issued later, Yeoh said her book also documented her personal journey as a young Malaysian, her marriage, and her role as a wife and mother.
“This is why it is called Becoming Hannah and not Becoming DAP or Becoming a Christian.”
Yeoh also defended the DAP of having a “Malaysian agenda” rather than a Christian one.
She reiterated DAP’s commitment to a secular state, adding this was reflected by DAP’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious membership.
According to the Malay Mail Online, Yeoh said: “I am saddened by these irresponsible and defamatory allegations against the DAP and the racial and religious card is used once again as the general elections draw near.
She said she would leave it to the DAP legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo to advise her and the party on their legal recourse.
Meanwhile, Kamarul said in a Facebook posting that he was willing to take responsibility for the post and giving his statements to the authorities. He also claimed that he had proof of Yeoh’s Christianisation agenda and will be revealing it soon.