Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 3^rd July 2012: 

The Prime Minister must prove that 1Malaysia is no empty slogan 

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that the next general elections will be fought on race in direct contrast to PR fighting the next general election based on the economy and improving the livelihood of the people. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak must prove Mahathir wrong and that BN will not fight the next general elections based on race by stopping the demonisation of non-Malays to stoke fear and hatred amongst Malaysians.

Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan has been completely ripped apart and ignored by the extremist and racist supporters of UMNO who are conducting a sustained campaign of primitive hatred and imagined fears against Bersih Co-Chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Singapore and myself. Ambiga has been threatened and harrassed at a home with beef burgers and butt dance by veteran soldiers, a disgraceful act against a Hindu, woman and Indian.

Worse UMNO Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz has asked that she be hanged for treason against the King for leading Bersih, when she was not the only organizer of the movement for clean elections. Why did Mohamad Aziz never make such calls for those who steal votes or the rakyat’s money?

Even though Mohamad Aziz was forced to withdraw this extremist and racist statement after I sought a ruling from the Speaker in Parliament, Moahamad Aziz never apologised to Ambiga. Najib should prove his respects the Indians, Hindus and women by directing that Mohamad Aziz makes a full and unconditional apology to Ambiga.

At the same time UMNO supporters in Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia continues to demonise the non-Malays with lies that a Chinese dominated Singapore has a political agenda to interfere and control Malaysian politics. Utusan Malaysia weaves its web of lies citing proof the visits by Lee Kuan Yew to Penang and the historical roots of DAP. Utusan Malaysia ignores the fact that Lee Kuan Yew also visited BN states apart from Penang and that the only contact is government to government after PR won power in 2008. If these allegations are true, then Najib should lodge an official complaint with Singapore and adduce evidence. Otherwise he should direct Utusan Malaysia to stop such childish and dangerous games that makes Malaysia an international laughing stock.

UMNO must also withdraw its support from a racist and extremist organisation with a history of hatred and violence against non-Malays. As the PR Chief Minister of Penang, I have been their favourite target. Even though Penang PR state government believes in the right of peaceful demonstration, Perkasa has gone too far by not only throwing anti-Lim Guan Eng posters in my path but also threatened my personal safety.

Perkasa supporters had been involved in beating up reporters twice, once last year in July on the Penang Bridge and the second time during the anti-Lynas rally on February 28 in Penang. During the anti-Lynas rally, Perkasa members blocked and beat my official car and threatened my safety. No action was taken by police against Perkasa who just stood by watching the violent behaviour.

In my visit to the Teluk Bahang market last Saturday, Perkasa not only conducted an abusive demonstration meters away from me but also charged at me from behind brushing hard my left arm. There was no provocation from the state government group or me as we kept quiet and did not respond to the verbal abuses. Whilst there was police presence, again the police failed to provide adequate protection nor arrest the person who charged at me from behind and brushed hard against me. Instead of the police pushing away the person who charged me from behind, I had to depend on a local PR JKKK leader to push the Perkasa “charger” away from me.

Penang state deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar was quoted as saying that if it was not for police intervention, the Chief Minister could have been injured. If that is the case then why was no action taken to arrest the culprit who charged me from behind and threatened my safety?

Najib should withdraw UMNO’s support for Perkasa and direct that stern police action be taken against Perkasa for such violent behaviour. Failure to do so would only further encourage even more violent behaviour and Najib would have to bear full responsibility for any even more serious incidents in future.

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