Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Thursday, 1^st December 2011: 

UMNO's attack on soft targets is a desperate attempt to distract attention from its failure to address the hard targets 

Malaysian parents would be disgusted at the coarse language used by UMNO leaders in the UMNO Youth General Assembly that not only reflects UMNO's mindset as devoid of policy ideas but filled with lies, hatred, enmity and fear. Penang Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin (left) was the most vocal in name calling describing PAS and PKR had became bapok (soft) and pondan (transvestites), even labelling all voters of DAP as bangsat(bastard).

To back his allegations, Shaik claimed that the Penang state government banned the Maulidur Rasual annual procession and that action is taken against Malay traders. This is a lie as statistics show that 70% in Penang island and 85% in Seberang Perai of action taken is against non-Malay traders. Shaik may trick non-Penangites but Penang Muslims know that the Maulidur Rasul procession is not banned but has been held in a bigger manner every year by the Penang PR government.

Shaik completed his shameful display of total contempt for democratic choice by the voters by calling for UMNO to reclaim Malay dominance in Penang. Instead of celebrating democracy as a demonstration of the rakyat's dominance, UMNO has once again shown its true colours that 1Malaysia is merely an empty slogan to deceive Malaysians into supporting BN and UMNO.

As a NGO friend told me, UMNO's vicious attacks on the national stage shows their election platform will not be a contest of ideas but a race to the bottom based on racism, sex, lies and vulgar language. Perhaps this shameful display is merely aping the obscene conduct of UMNO Youth President Khairy Jamaludin. Khairy had picked on my 15 year old son with lies that my son had sexually molested his classmate and I had paid RM200,000 to cover up the sex scandal by tweeting that "Mungkin dia roboh Kampung Buah Pala sebab nak ganti dengan Kampung Buah Dada".

In fact, the use of racism, sex, lies and vulgar language hides UMNO's real weakness and fears. Beginning with UMNO Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and continuing with UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin "jihad"(holy war) speech, UMNO's attack on soft targets like Christians, Chinese, Bersih Chair S. Ambiga, DAP and even voters of DAP is a desperate attempt to distract attention from UMNO's failure to address the hard targets of corruption, cronyism and abuse of power.

No mention is made about the cows and condos scandal involving the family of a Federal Minister. One wonders why is the ordinary Pak Chik in the kampong not given such opportunity? No questions are raised why money from a RM250 million can be approved and released two years even before the agreement was signed by both parties. Every one wants to cover up the scandal of using money meant to rear cows has been diverted to buy not one but two luxury condominiums.

DAP will not respond to UMNO's election platform of racism, sex, lies and vulgar language. DAP will focus on reforms to bring about clean elections, fight corruption by establishing integrity in leadership, seek justice for all by respecting rule of law, uphold democracy and basic human rights as well as promote good governance based on competency, accountability and transparency.

The 4 Pakatan Rakyat states' record of good governance speaks for itself. Not only are Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor cleaner, greener and safer. Economic growth has also progressed. Investment in these PR four states comprise 53% of Malaysia's total investments in 2010, far exceeding investment in the other 10 BN states.

I urge leaders and voters of DAP not to over-react or be disturbed by such senseless provocation from UMNO. Let Malaysians judge PR and DAP based on performance, principles, ideals and ideas not on one's ability to manipulate racism, sex, lies and vulgar language.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister