Malaysian newspaper, New Straits Time, has apologised to Senator Nick Xenophon for wrongly accusing him of making an anti-Islamic speech in parliament.
The story quotes an extract from a 2009 speech made by Senator Xenophon condemning Scientology; but it claims the speech to the Australian Senate was about Islam and uses a quote with the word “Islam” substituted where Senator Xenophon in fact said “Scientology”.
The Senator said he was “gobsmacked” by the story that questioned his impartiality as an observer of a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
He told AAP the story was a “complete lie” and he was seeking legal advice regarding it.
The story also stated that in the speech, Senator Xenophon “came out openly in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issue” [sic] while in Malaysia, homosexuality is illegal.
However – while the senator supports same sex civil unions – the only mention in that speech of gay rights issues is that a former Scientology member “was instructed by the organisation to disconnect from her sister because her sister was gay and therefore, according to Scientology, dangerous, perverted and evil”.
