KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says there is no truth to a claim saying he had ordered the diversion of funds meant to aid Malay youths, and so has told a coalition of Malay and Muslim groups to apologise for the allegation or be sued. 

Speaking to reporters at Parliament lobby, Lim said allegations made by the Gagasan Kuasa 3 (G3) coalition were slanderous and could provoke racial hatred. 

"Amongst their allegations is that I have instructed that an allocation of RM200 million meant for Malay youth under a Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre programme be diverted for contributions to Chinese temples. But no such thing happened," he said.  

"On the advice of lawyers, I will ask this organisation to take back what they have said and apologise, otherwise I will take legal action. Meanwhile, my party will also lodge a police report. I hope police could take action against such irresponsible act," Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, added.

Lim said the G3 — reportedly made up of 53 Malay and Muslim NGOs — was trying to incite racial sentiment just to have more people turn out at a rally on Dec 8, organised by Umno and PAS. 

G3 has vowed to bring 5,000 supporters to participate in the anti-ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) rally. 

"If they demonstrate peacefully, of course there is no problem, but if they want to provoke sentiment through slanderous claims, that is very dangerous," Lim said.