Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Sunday, 3^rd July 2011: 

UMNO's Senator Ezam Mohamad Nor's arrest proves that Penang UMNO is a coward for denying UMNO's involvement in a violent illegal demonstration  

The Penang state government is shocked by Penang UMNO State Liaison Chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman's blatant and open lie that UMNO is not involved in a violent demonstration on 1.7.2011 in Komtar and the Penang Bridge that severely disrupted traffic for 10km and attacked two reporters from Chinese newspapers.

Instead of trying to deny and cover-up UMNO's involvement, Datuk Zainal should have sought public forgiveness and apologised for UMNO's involvement. Video footage of the illegal assembly and the arrest of UMNO Senator Ezam Mohd Nor by the police for illegal assembly proves that UMNO is a coward for trying to deny its involvement and is a classic reminder of the Malay proverb, "baling batu sembunyi tangan".

Is Datuk Zainal going to deny that Ezam is an UMNO member and appointed by UMNO to be a Senator? Ezam had threatened that there is no need to wait for general elections and wanted to do more protests to force me to step down as Chief Minister earlier. Where is UMNO's respect for democracy and my mandate as the rightful elected Chief Minister of Penang?

What is even more detestable is that mainstream media like the New Straits Times(NST) being complicit in UMNO's cowardice and lies by not publishing news that UMNO Senator Ezam was arrested by the police for participating in that violent illegal assembly. No mention was made by NST of 2 reporters being attacked by UMNO nor that the demonstrators had blocked traffic in the middle of the Penang Bridge causing a 10km traffic jam. Penang UMNO and UMNO Youth state leaders were also present at that violent illegal assembly.

7 others were arrested with Ezam including a Perkasa Penang leader Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin. This proves again that UMNO is working closely with the racist and anti-non-Malay Perkasa. Gerakan, MCA or MIC must fully explain why they still support an UMNO that works closely with a racist organisation like Perkasa that regards our Chinese women ancestors as prostitutes and Indians as beggars and dogs.

Penang police must take immediate action against those responsible for the serious offence of attacking the two reporters who were taking photographs. Both reporters have lodged police reports and provided evidence of their assailants and their vehicles. Failure by the police to act would only confirm public perception of double-standards that the police only act against PR supporters but allow UMNO to march and disrupt traffic or even beat up reporters unpunished.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister