THE new head of Bury's troubled race relations body has issued a "shut up or stay away" directive to his vice-chairman on the eve of a crucial meeting.

But businessman Mohammed Muneer says he won't be gagged and intends to voice his concerns about the way Bury's Racial Equality Council (BREC) has "wasted" money.

Chairman Sam Cohen, who took over when Mrs Val McGrory dramatically quit two weeks ago, issued his shock ultimatum in a letter to Mr Muneer.

He is demanding a written guarantee that Mr Muneer won't criticise BREC during next week's crucial funding meeting with the Commission for Racial Equality.

If Mr Muneer won't agree to be silent then Mr Cohen, a former Conservative councillor, adds: "It would be in the best interest of everyone if you stayed away."

At the meeting Mr Muneer says he will repeat claims that BREC has wasted £13,000 on its Asian Women's Project, set up with National Lottery money.

Mr Muneer raised the issue at a meeting last week between BREC honorary officers and representatives from Bury Council which, along with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), funds the local race relations organisation.

Mr Muneer, a member of BREC for ten years, says that money is being wasted on the Asian Women's Project, originally set up at premises in Rochdale Road, Bury.

He claims they were forced to move out because urgent repairs were required but are bound by the terms of their three-year lease to pay £13,000 rent.

It was that criticism which prompted Mr Cohen to issue his letter.

In it he warns Mr Muneer that if such concerns were repeated in front of CRE officials then he would put "into serious jeopardy" future funding. A furious Mr Muneer says he will send a copy of the letter to the Commission.

He said this week: "This is an attempt to gag me, to get me to shut my mouth. I have every right to express my feelings and my concerns."

But an unrepentant Mr Cohen said: "Mr Muneer should be speaking up for the organisation, not criticising it. If he feels this letter gags him then he could resign and that would give him reason to speak out. In the end, he could be the cause of BREC closing down and the staff losing their jobs."

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