DAP condemns UMNO for trying to politicise the recent incidents in Penang with its statements blaming it on the opposition parties, when it is UMNO that plays the fires of racial and religious hatred, unlike the opposition’s focus on price hikes in sugar, petrol, power tarrifs and highway toll.
I wish to remind UMNO that the Penang state government had never organised any demonstrations. The Penang state government was even severely criticised when we advised an anti-price hike demonstration by NGOs to be postponed after the Chinese New Year.
Over the last 10 days, Malaysians witnessed ugly scenes of racial hatred and violence manifested in these incidents attended by top UMNO leaders, elected representatives, members and supporters in Penang.
- A rally in Seberang Jaya on January 18th protesting against the ‘I Love Kangkung’ flash mob organised by PKR Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon. Despite this being organized by PKR, DAP was blamed with Lim Kit Siang and myself targeted and threats of May 13 riots issued. Lies and a seditious banner was displayed ‘Because of DAP leaders’ mouths, May 13 happened…want some more?’;
- A second rally in Taman Alma, Bukit Mertajam on January 19 where the picture of myself, Lim Kit Siang and Khai Loon’s effigy was burnt whilst a motorist was assaulted, beaten up and his motorcycle stolen;
- For the first time in Malaysian history a senior Malay government officer Senior Assistant District Officer Abu Hassan Osman was openly assaulted on January 21 in front of 35 policemen supposed to be protecting him in Teluk Bahang. Even though Abu Hassan’s shirt was torn after the attack, the assailants were not immediately arrested but only after I had contacted the Penang Chief Police Officer. Abu Hassan was leading an enforcement team to demolish 14 empty, abandoned or new structures(NOT illegal stalls already operating for years) after receiving complaints from local Malay residents;
- A memorandum submitted by a Muslim NGO and supported by UMNO Youth Tanjung Division Vice-Chairman demanding a ban on open selling of pork in areas like Lebuh Chulia, Jalan Kuantan and Jalan C.Y. Choy in George Town. Such open selling of pork and hanging the meat in stalls have been practiced ever since British colonial days and even when BN was in power. Why should this be an issue now and when these areas are 95% non-Muslim residential areas?
All these incidents are clearly directed to distract attention from the price hikes in sugar, petrol, TNB power tariffs and highway road tolls. In contrast, the Penang state government did not increase any state government services such as quit rent, assessment, water tarrifs and business licenses.
3 high quality inflammatory banners with the same content were put up by an unknown group outside 3 Catholic churches on Sunday in Penang. The churches have lodged police reports. The Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi have also confirmed that these banners have nothing to do with the churches and are intended to heighten Muslim anger. He described the actions by unknown groups as extreme and police are investigating under the Sedition Act.
This was followed by an attack on the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang early Monday morning by 2 unknown men, when 2 Molotov cocktails were hurled where one exploded whilst the other fell on the grass. Fortunately there were no further incidents following increased patrols from police at Christian and Muslim places of religious worship.
In this critical hour with shadowy extremist and racist forces conducting sustained aggression to destabilise our unity and peace, DAP reaffirms our firm and uncompromising commitment to protect, preserve and promote respect for cultural diversity, racial and religious harmony by rejecting both violence and hatred.