This was after a Puteri Umno leader had said a man who had gone amok at a factory in Bayan Lepas was actually trying to avenge a few people over insults to Islam.
PPBM secretary-general Marzuki Yahya said the remarks were false as the police did not find any motive related to religion in the attack.
“This kind of spin is not doing any good to our racial harmony. We all know that the attacker was suffering from depression over a work-related matter.
“It is ignorant for this Umno leader to have not read the news or official reports from the police.
“By giving innocent people at a ceramah a ‘cerita dongeng’ (fairy tale) for the sake of political mileage, she is instigating the rest to fight. This is not good,” he said.
Marzuki, who is also deputy foreign minister and Penang PPBM chief, said police must take action so that others do not try to spread fake news made up by social media propagandists.
Penang PKR chief Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said people should not make conclusions while the police were investigating.
He said even the inspector-general of police had refuted claims of religious elements.
Wanita DAP, led by Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid, described the statement by the Puteri Umno leader as “racist and dangerous”.
“Despite the IGP saying it has nothing to do with race or religion, this Umno leader would rather believe a tale made up by bigots on social media.
“What she has said is illogical. We also see a lot of leaders instigating and raising racist remarks and this is extremely dangerous. We have to make sure our unity is preserved.
“Failure to verify information shows the level of ignorance and apathy her party is still in,” Syerleena said after lodging a report over the matter at the Patani Road police station with city councillor Connie Tan.
Recently, Puteri Umno vice-chief Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi reportedly said during a talk in Kelantan that the man who ran amok was a martyr as he attacked those who insulted Prophet Muhammad.
On Sept 23, the 25-year-old man slashed two people at the B Braun factory in Bayan Lepas, leaving one dead and another with severed hands.
He was shot dead after two policemen fired three shots at him after he charged at them with a parang.
It was reported that the attacker had been converted from a full-time to a contract staff, which led him to resign. His last day was supposed to be Sept 30.
Police had warned the public not to spread fake news related to the matter on social media or risk action.