A group of state Barisan Nasional youth leaders and supporters numbering more than 100 staged a protest outside the Penang legislative assembly this afternoon against the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

NONE The protesters vented their frustration against what they described as an "inefficient and indecisive" state government which failed to resolve the people's problems and fulfill pre-election promises.

Led by Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Zahalan, the protest started at 12.15pm and ended about 45 minutes later.

It took place while the assembly sitting was going on.

The protesters also carried banners and placards condemning the state government for failing to resolve issues such as Kampung Buah Pala, Mak Mandin Rumah Hijau and the controversial conversion of a foreshore land status.

NONE An unidentified protester had stomped and torched a poster of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong later clarified that the protester was not a BN Youth member.

"I tried to stop him but the situation became uncontrollable," he told Malaysiakini .

"We condemn the act of torching the poster. If you have any grievances, you should express it in peaceful way," he added.

CM questions police's 'tolerance'

Meanwhile, Lim who witnessed the demonstration when the assembly rested for lunch questioned the police's 'tolerance'.

NONE "I hope the police would exercise the same tolerance towards other demonstrations," he told reporters.

The chief minister said the Pakatan government was not against people exercising their right to express their disapproval against his administration. However, he alleged that the protesters were aggressive.

"I heard that some of them attempted to break down the anti-ISA billboard erected outside the House. It’s an act of political gangsterism," he said.

Also present at the protest was Penang MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran and his PPP counterpart M Manikumar.

NONE Although no one was detained, Norman however, had his statement recorded at the nearby Lebuh Pantai police station.

He later told reporters that the protest was held on behalf of Penangites to condemn the incompetency of the state government in resolving many contentious issues in the state in the past 20 months.

"The state government is keen in politicking and slandering the previous BN administration with lies. It's a demonstration of public dissatisfaction against the Pakatan government.

"It (the state government) is inefficient, incompetent and lacks the experience and maturity to run the state," he said.

Aide abused

Dhinagaran said if the state government leaders felt that they lacked experience and political conviction to administer, then they should resign en bloc and pave way for fresh polls.

NONE The Pakatan state government was also urged to administer the state instead of always blaming the previous administration.

The chief minister’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik claimed that he was verbally abused with foul language by the noisy protesters.

"I told them to show some respect to the on-going assembly sitting and refrain from using vulgar words. But I was verbally abused in return," he said.

MACC report lodged

In another development, the state Umno Youth lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against the state government over the sale of a 1.4-hectare piece of land in Georgetown.

Its treasurer, Aziaan Ariffin, said he had asked the MACC to investigate the sale of the land located adjacent to the E&O Hotel.

"We found that the state government had changed the status of Lot 408 in Georgetown early this year by imposing a low premium on PDC Heritage Hotel Sdn Bhd (PHH)," he said.

"As such, we feel there are some irregularities and also an element of corruption in the change of the status of the land," he said.