SHAH ALAM, 30 Jan: DAP condemns UMNO for trying to politicise the recent incidents in Penang with its statements blaming it on the opposition parties, when it is UMNO that plays the fires of racial and religious hatred
DAP Secretary-General, Lim Guan Eng, said that Umno should also not put their blame of their wrongdoings onto Pakatan Rakyat (PR) because its members attended incidents deliberately created by them.
Guan Eng, as the Chief Minister, is always working to protect and preserve the harmony of the people of various races in the state from extremists.
“I wish to remind UMNO that the Penang state government had never organised any demonstrations. The Penang state government was even severely criticised when we advised an anti-price hike demonstration by NGOs to be postponed after the Chinese New Year.
“Over the last 10 days, Malaysians witnessed ugly scenes of racial hatred and violence manifested in these incidents attended by top UMNO leaders, elected representatives, members and supporters in Penang,” he said after a dialogue session with the DAP Parliamentary Leader, Lim Kit Siang at the National DAP Headquarters recently.
Taken from Roketkini, Guan Eng also said that Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government is committed and focused on resolving issues concerning price hikes in sugar, petrol, power tarrifs and highway toll, which is increasingly oppressing the people.
“All these incidents are clearly directed to distract attention from the price hikes in sugar, petrol, TNB power tariffs and highway road tolls.
“In contrast, the Penang state government did not increase any state government services such as quit rent, assessment, water tarrifs and business licenses,” he said.
For a few weeks, Penang has not been lacking of a variety of racial and religious incidences that are worrying, but have failed to be taken action on by the authorities.
Among them is the second rally in Taman Alma, Bukit Mertajam on January 19 where the picture of myself, Lim Kit Siang and Khai Loon’s effigy was burnt whilst a motorist was assaulted, beaten up and his motorcycle stolen, as well as Molotov cocktail attacks and the hanging of banners without permission at several churches in the state.
In addition, a memorandum submitted by a Muslim NGO and supported by UMNO Youth Tanjung Division Vice-Chairman demanding a ban on open selling of pork in areas like Lebuh Chulia, Jalan Kuantan and Jalan C.Y. Choy in George Town. Such open selling of pork and hanging the meat in stalls have been practiced ever since British colonial days and even when BN was in power and these are areas are 95% non-Muslim residential areas.
