Commenting on the controversy over a bear statue carrying a hadith in Arabic script on its rear, previously on display at an exhibition at the Esplanade here, Lim said the bear statues had been on display in Kuala Lumpur before, but no issues had cropped up then.

“Umno is as usual trying to politicise this event. Why didn’t you (Umno) politicise this function in KL?

“Penang is always wrong and whatever is done by Barisan Nasional is right. Come on lah, don’t play this type of extremist politics,” Lim told reporters in Komtar today.

He added that the exhibition in KL, in late 2011, was also attended by the Sultan of Selangor.

“I am happy that the organisers have removed the said bears after concerns were raised.

“It shows that the event organisers are sensitive,” said Lim.

The bear in question is part of over 140 United Buddy Bears, representing all countries and cities around the world. It is on a global tour to promote peace and harmony.

The statues are in the form of a standing bear, each two metres tall, with liveries representing countries and inspirational quotes.

The hadith, reported by Bukhari and Muslim, means: “None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

Penang Umno Youth Chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim called on police to act against the organisers who “might have affected the sensitivities of Malay Muslims at large.”

“I and my Deputy Youth Chief Jasmin Nordin rushed to the site after a member of the public complained that there was a bear with Jawi writing on its butt,” he said, referring to the Malay word for the Arabic script.

However, the “offensive” statue had been removed by the time the duo arrived at the scene.