OPPOSITION MP HAS SINNED BY TARNISHING COUNTRY`S IMAGE - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Those who tarnish their country's image with
the aim of causing turmoil are regarded to have sinned, says Minister in the
Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

"We should love our country and be prepared to defend it, as defending our own
country is a 'jihad' (holy war) which carries a big divine reward.

"Hence, if the reward is big (for such a 'jihad'), it is also a big sin for one
to tarnish one's own country's image and honour to cause upheaval in the
country," he told reporters after handing over a contribution from the Federal
Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) for patients and certain hospitals
in the Klang Valley, Thursday.

He was earlier asked to comment on media reports that Lembah Pantai member of
parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar had allegedly said things that had tarnished the
country's image and reputation in an interview with an Indonesian newspaper
recently.

She was alleged to have made inaccurate statements about the New Economic Policy
and had belittled the capability of the country's submarines.

Earlier, Jamil Khir handed over the Raya contribution from MAIWP amounting to
RM1.4 million to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Medical Centre, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and Putrajaya Hospital, and
RM20,000 to Hospital Nukleus, Labuan. (US$1=RM3.14)

He said the contribution was for the hospitals to buy medical equipment and also
goes to each hospital's welfare fund to help poor patients celebrate Aidilfitri
(celebration to mark the end of Ramadan month).
-- BERNAMA