KUALA LUMPUR: The Cheras Umno division has started a fund to help Utusan Malaysia defend itself against a RM30mil defamation lawsuit filed by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

Kicking off the fund with a RM20,000 contribution, division head Datuk Syed Ali Al Habshee said the Tabung Azan would also be used to assist mosques and suraus that needed money to buy loudspeakers for the purpose of the azan(call to prayer).

“Teresa has challenged the honour of Malays by suing Utusan Malaysia as it is a newspaper owned by the Malays.

“Challenging the Malays is similar to challenging Umno,” he said in urging other divisions to contribute to the fund.

On Thursday, Kok sued Utusan Melayu Sdn Bhd and the paper’s columnist Zaini Hassan over an article that allegedly defamed her.

Kok was said to have petitioned a mosque in Puchong to reduce the volume for the azan, something which she has strongly denied.

The mosque has also stated she was not involved in such a move.

Syed Ali said questioning the azan meant questioning the honour of Malays and Islam.