By Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
February 05, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Lim Guan Eng denied today that his Penang administration was behind a tourism booklet which Umno claimed has challenged the early existence of the Malays in the island.
The Penang chief minister also demanded that the Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad to apologise within a week for blaming the state government had distributed the “My Balik Pulau” booklet.
“To make matter worse, the Pulau Betong assemblyman and Utusan Malaysia through its reports have attacked the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government accusing us of publishing material containing historically misleading facts and insulting the Malays when it was Umno and the federal government that should be made responsible,” said Lim in a statement.
In an Utusan Malaysia’s report on February 1, Farid reportedly accused the Penang state government of twisting historical facts in an attempt to mislead the younger generation.
The Malay daily said that the booklet was published by the Penang Arts Education Society and sponsored by the Penang Education Council, which Utusan Malaysia claimed to be an advisory body for the DAP’s state government.
On February 3, the Umno-owned daily carried another report calling the My Balik Pulau booklet as dangerous.
The report quoted Penang campus of Malaysian teachers institute alumni president Abdul Said Hussain who claimed that the booklet was aimed at convincing the Chinese that their ancestors were the first to settle in Balik Pulau and not the Malays.
Lim revealed today that among the sponsors for the tourism booklet were Farid’s resource centre and other Balik Pulau Umno leaders.
“However all pro-Umno media and Utusan Malaysia continue to spread lies, accusing the PR state government of discriminating against the Malays,” said Lim.
The DAP secretary-general also vowed to take action against Farid if he refuses to retract his statement and apologise to the state government.
“The state government will not keep quiet and be blamed for others’ mistakes especially the mistakes of the evil Umno,” said Lim.
“The Umno assemblyman for Pulau Betong must retract his statement and apologise publicly for his lies. If he fails to do so next, a stern action will be taken against him,” he added.
Lim also did not rule out the possibility of bringing up the matter to the state legislative for what he claimed to be Farid’s racist game.
“Umno’s politics of racism and hatred to cover their scandal and corrupt practices must be fought against,” he said.
Lim has had numerous run-ins with Umno-owned media especially after capturing the state in Election 2008. He has banned Utusan Malaysia from covering his events, saying the paper had misreported and refused to give him a right of reply.
He has also initiated suits against the Malay daily for what he called lies in their reportage. Critics have said that Utusan’s partisan reporting has resulted in declining circulation and readership over the years.
Elected to give non stop problems to Lim Guan Eng…while none was done to Koh Tsu Koon of Gerakan in Penang.
What a sickening low class Federal Government we have.
The accusation about the tourism booklet twisting historical facts and challenging the early existence of the Malays in the island is just one of the litany of the many series of accusations against Lim Guan Eng (“LGE”), the object of which is to fan racial and religious sentiments and to portray him and the DAP as anti-Malay and anti Islam – and by extension PKR and PAS as well in collaborating with the DAP!
The other examples of such accusations are (i) LGE’s name had replaced the King’s during Friday “doa khutbah” sermons in some mosques in the state; (ii) LGE’s poverty eradication programmes are sourced from funds from haram gambling activities; (iii) law enforcers said Penang was becoming a hub for commercial gay sex services and the local councils seemed to encourage it; (iv) LGE had something against Malay traders in setting up Ramadan stalls in Komtar; (v) LGE canceled the Maulidur Rasul procession; (vi) LGE had had questioned the citizenship and loyalty of Utusan Malaysia supporters speech at the second Pakatan Rakyat national convention; (vii) LGE Govt wanted to acquire 200-acre site owned by primarily Malay settlers in Balik Pulau for the building of an educational hub of excellence. This resonates of placinmg meritocracy ahead of NEP!
The pressure to taint him and his administration with the brush of anti malay and anti Islam or anti Royalty is sustained and unremitting. No wonder LGE said in an interview, “Every day is a challenge. Every day is a survival exercise. It’s like experiencing Survivor”. He has the unenviable record of being the most attacked and abused Chief Minister in the whole of Malaysia – not only by ministers, but by other lower ranking UMNO’s MPs and even a civil servant (Nik Ali Mat Yunus) who called him “biadap” at an Umno press conference over the controversy arising from demolition of controversial twin arches in Botanic Garden.
(Continuing from preceding post)
To the ruling party much is at stake in targeting Penang, tarring his image and destabilizing his administration, and if possible recover Penang to BN’s or UMNO’s fold.
For Penang is a rich state. Penang land price is expensive. A lot of money is derivable from land alienation, quit rent and land registration fees (that could be used by DAP to finance election campaigns!) As land is under jurisdiction of the state, the privatization of the Port there may also be hindered by an uncooperative state govt.
More important he is the first Chinese CM not under BN and not kow-towing to UMNO. Besides he is trying to show case to Penangites and Malaysians what PR governance in contrast to BN is all about by personal example of not taking bribes, awarding open tender based on CAT the management of Bukit Jambul Golf Country Resort to a company that is worth more than RM 40 million; the effect of fiscal discipline saving RM33 million for 2 local councils in waste disposal and turning their accounts from red to black. If this kind of governance spreads its appeal, throughout the land, where will the old order of political patronage based on race/religion (to which BN is identified) stand????
Therefore he and what he stands for are a big threat to legitimacy of UMNO’s rule.
To put his actions under microscope and interpret, misinterpret and exert continuous pressure on him being not taking care of Malay or religious interest seems a good strategy to alienate Malay vote bank in Penang from the DAP. If LGE fails to draw the line and in defence goes out of his way to uphold Malay interest and Islam, then the attack is skewed the other way in hope to wean non malays’ and non muslims’ support away from him and DAP on grounds that it is playing second fiddle to PAS and leaning towards the Islamic state contrary to his secular pluralistic platform. So LGE has to tread a fine line between two pincers. They hope he trips in a major way and thats where they get him!
Actually, UMNO Penang has fgone amok.
It seems very likely that PR will make a clean sweep of Penang in the next GE. That would certainly put the last nail in the coffin for both GERAKAN and UMNO, Penang.
Hence, this realisation is causing nightmares in UMNO, Penanng. So we can understand why UMNO Penang has now to either go to an asylum or be treated for political dementia.
Now, BN also feels so badly threatened that Tun M has to resort to all kinds of anachronistic racist sloganeering. Actually, this great “bendahara mamak’, so-called, has such a disproportionate sense of his own importance, he refuses to acknowledge that he is today a political has-been, just as President Carter would acknowedge that he has no real clout in today’s Democratic Caucus. So President Carter stays true to his role as an elder statesman and plays the role of a moderate voice and keeps his sense of proportion in what he does and say. Tun M flails his arms and his forked tongue with such venom and abandon, he spits on everything within a radius of a 100 miles. So sad, so very sad.
Wouldn’t waste time with one suffering from political Alzheimer’s disease where his political brain and wisdom has shrunk to pea-sized.
So sad, so very sad. Poor and lonely Tun M.
Rakyat shld WAKE UP 2 d stark naked fact dat UmnoB r truly RACIST n LIAR, n r all ready 2 twist facts 2 create RACIAL TENSION in our nation, Malays against nonMalays
UmnoB realise LGE-led PR is doing a great job in Penang, opening d eyes n brains of rakyat
At all cost, UmnoB MUST DESTROY LGE, n d only way they know is 2 portray LGE as anti-Malays; hence, UmnoB+their msm+Perkosa incessantly attack LGE through lies n more lies
Rakyat must b brave like those in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, RISE n KICK OUT corrupt, racist UmnoB/MCA/Gerakan/MIC/BN
UMNO’s behaviour has moulded the Malay mentality and forsake brain power.
That’s why it chooses to wallow in gutter politics than to engage its opponent in intellectual debate.
Utusan Malaysia can sell its news because its readers are intellectually deficient and lack critical thinking ability.
Only low class human beings will resort to such low barbaric tactics to win support of their community and pit one community against another.
Racism and religious bigotry is the only language UMNO knows.
Time and again unscrupulous politicians are playing the race card to gain political mileage.
Who is dis mah chai bugs bunny Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan KL?
Trying 2 polish apple, score brownie points n butter up whose aa-rse whole huh?
Does he DARE 2 comment on MMK’s racist remarks? Like KTK, also boh hood 1
Ha, ha, ha, …………… dis Muhammad Farid Saad is truly stupid n shameless; he did not even remember dat UmnoB n d central gomen were responsible 4 telling d TRUTH: Chinese ancestors were d first 2 settle in Balik Pulau n not 2 Malays
ENDANGER HORNBILL,ok la,no need to chirp already la though we are impressed and listen attentively to your melody chirp whole heartedly.We reckoned that is one true sad song indeed but I aready taroh him ma and said that i swore to piss on his grave.This fella ar..i am damn sick to see or hear anything at all about him.He reminds me of witch groom..can’t find suitable word for male gender
Lim Guan Eng, you’ve done a great job managing Penang and we hope that Penang will develop into the next “Singapore” success story. You have our full support right through the coming GE.
Irrespective of what has been achieved so far, Penang must fail so other ports, including S’pore, in the region will continue to grow.
Good jobs and income for the ordinary people are not important.
After decades of being misguided and misled…..confronting the truth is very painful and humiliating.
Who were the first settlers in Lembah Bujang, Kedah?
In Gangga Nagara, Beruas, Perak?
The answer is not parasmeswara the bandit chief!
New malaysian history— Francis Light converted and joined umno (similar case as the mamaaktir) before discovering Penang, so Penang discovered settled by malays first.
So did Christopher Columbus, so America is actually discovered by umno.
During this CNY, I hear almost unanimous support for the current Penang govt. No non-Malay believes any of these lies. The problem is do the Malay believe it.
Its high time PR lower their pride and ask their supporters to tell a Malay of the lies leveled against LGE battle cry for PR should ‘please tell a Malay the truth’.
In dis nation, schools, gomen n UmnoB don’t want our students 2 ask intelligent Q, 2 expose lies, 2 challenge d system, n 2 know d truth (they want them 2 b like KTK, boh-hud)
http://www.malaysianmirror.com/media-buzz-detail/6-nation/51861-school-threatens-student-with-inquiring-mind-about-rukunegara
DAP better than MCA, Gerakan, BN. Really?
10 Tawau DAP leaders including publicity chief James Leong hv quit n joined Gerakan
KTK n Moo showed their crude uncultured style during d Penang BN Chinese New Year open house by openly insulting their guest LGE n telling blatant lies
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/155330
Does dis mah chai bugs bunny Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan KL hv anything 2 say abt it?
Any decent people with bigger than pea brain will know what LGE has been doing all this while to benefit the rakyat.Penangites have already started to enjoy the fruits carefully planted and nurtured by LGE.Result speaks yo!
KTK,CSL and Najis are no match to LGE no matter how they twist all the facts and fabricate all sort of lies toward him.If BN could sincerely implement the right policy of governance like LGE,than our country would have been prosperous and advanced long time ago.There will be no heckling and racial outburst like what we frequent seeing now.
D boy shld b praised 4 writing his true feeling abt Rukun Negara: “Rukunegara tak guna”
Also 4 his frank n wonderful answer: “Dan memberi hak sama rata kepada setiap kaum di negara ini dan bkn untuk layanan istimewa kpd majoriti sahaja”
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/02/06/inquiry-mind-student-claims-not-true/
Y did SMK Vivekananda find his answer sensitive n suspend him 4 3 days?
Y did SMK Vivekananda make public a page of report on d boy’s performance in 6 subjects?
Only umno will do things like this. Who doesnt know? Just like kids. No. It is worse then kids. It is plain low class – no low class – sabotage, crudely hatched and executed. And they expect the effort to work for them? Come on. Go. Sit under cintanegara’s rambutan tree and watch the rambutans fall, boy. Imagine a ruling party with the habit of fabricating untrue facts and sabotaging people and abusing power and sponging off the nation!