Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 21^st November 2011: 

Najib's new army of cyber troopers with a history of dirty tricks is proof that the 13^th general election will be the dirtiest election yet 

Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak has said that he will defend Putrajaya at all costs, even if it requires "crushed bodies and lost lives". Now, with Najib's launch of BN's new "cyber army", are we seeing the manifestation of doing whatever it takes to maintain power?

In launching the 1Malaysia Social Media Volunteers, or myVO1CE, Najib has effectively given pro-BN cyber troopers "official recognition", going so far as to call them a new army for the party in the virtual world. In his speech, Najib signalled a rallying call saying, "Bring out your iPads, iPhones, Blackberries and laptops. These are our weapons as the cyber warriors."

Finally Najib has admitted that BN not only condones and encourages, but is also supporting the cyber troopers who have been prowling the internet and leaving behind a trail of malicious falsehoods not only against Pakatan Rakyat and its leader, but even against innocent children.

In the last month, pro-BN cyber troopers, or "cyber warriors" as Najib describes them, including Umno's official website Umno-Online, have been spreading grotesque lies not only about me but also about my 16-year-old son.

The pro-BN bloggers had accused my son of molesting a female classmate, resulting in his transfer to another school. In addition, I had been accused of paying RM200,000 to the victim's family as an inducement to remain quiet.

They continued their attacks even after every single one of the allegations was proven to be untrue. Despite a statement by the alleged "victim", who turned out to be an international chess grandmaster from Hong Kong, denying ever being in contact with either myself or my son, and strong statements by the headmaster of my son's previous school as well as the Penang Director of Education staunchly denying any incident of the sort ever taking place, the BN cyber troopers including Umno-Online continued with their relentless campaign to defame me and my family.

Dr Novandri Hasan Bari, a Penang Umno leader and blogger who was one of those involved in spreading lies against my 16-year-old son, and Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin who had followed up with a shameful and lewd remark that vilified my innocent young son, were also present at the launching ceremony of the new "cyber army".

Now, with Najib's proud statement officially recognising pro-BN cyber troopers as part of BN's cyber army, is he not making a statement of admission that the BN is involved in the on-going dirty tricks campaign to cheat and lie their way to win the next General Election? Is this the kind of derogatory attacks that we can expect from the BN "cyber army"?

Without a doubt, Najib's new army of cyber troopers with a history of dirty tricks is proof that the 13^th General Election will be the dirtiest election yet.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan