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KUALA LUMPUR (May 27, 2008): Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has called on Malaysians to boycott Utusan and Mingguan Malaysia for provoking ethic sentiments.

In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said although there were signs that the mainstream media which are mostly controlled by Barisan Nasional component parties are slowly opening up, it is clear that they continue to be unfair and one-sided.

"Not only the coverage of parties in PR is limited, it is full of distortions and information to discredit the PR and its leaders.

"Utusan and Mingguan Malaysia still unfairly criticise and demonise the parties in PR and their main leaders, continuing to do so as if the election campaigns are still on ...," she told a press conference in Parliament lobby today.

Wan Azizah said: "Utusan is always trying to provoke narrow ethnic sentiments, clearly with the intention of creating anger among Malays against PR. We wish to emphasise that the PR upholds the Federal Conastitution.

"We wish to improve the condition of all people irrespective of ethnicity, religion and gender."

Wan Azizah also said PR regretted and "is worried about the wide politicising of the controversy of the Rulers and their powers".

"We opine that all should agree that a Mentri Besar should have the prerogative to transfer any executive officers in his state. We accepted Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh's statement from a legal perspective and that he did not mean to insult the Sultan.

"We hope that all will understand and accept the issue and stop raising the issue until it causes racial tension," she said.

However, Wan Azizah added that the Rulers, who are the state religious head, should be consulted before transferring any officers of the state religious council.

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