Surau Controversy: Resort Owner's PR Revoked.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has revoked the permanent resident (PR) status of the Singaporean resort owner, who had allowed a group of Buddhists to meditate at a surau in Johor. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Tanjung Sutera resort owner's PR status was revoked because he had committed a religious offence. "The action was taken after the ministry, through the National Registration Department, had carried out an investigation. The status is only a facility given by the government, it is not a privilege," he said at a Hari Raya event, organised by the Persatuan Pengasih here yesterday. He said permanent residents should be aware that the authorities would take action against them when Islam was involved. The resort owner, known only as Ahmad, had already been notified that his PR status had been revoked. The 45-year-old found himself in hot water after an 85-second-long video clip showing a group of Buddhists chanting in the resort's surau was uploaded on Facebook on Aug 11. Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday said the resort owner should be given a chance to explain. "If he did not intend to offend any religion, then he should not receive such a punishment. We need to look at the circumstances first before revoking his PR."