A group of senior citizens has vehemently denied being used by the DAP to heckle a Gerakan leader who spoke for the first time at the Penang Speakers Square last Sunday.

One of them, Chan Choo Poh, 81, denied being a DAP member. He said he was a member of a senior citizens group that often gathered at the Esplanade to while away their time, being retirees who had nothing much to do.

NONE Chan admitted he threw brickbats at Kedah Gerakan secretary Tang Hing Lye, who he said was unfair in hurling accusations at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for alleged better treatment of the Malay community.

He said he also criticised Gerakan for condemning the state's RM100 senior citizen appreciation award, for saying that the money from the DAP-led government was for the ‘funeral expenses' ( phek khim ) of the aged.

"We felt insulted as the accusations against Lim's government were not fair at all," Chan told reporters at the Square today.

NONE On Sunday, the group jeered Tang when he spoke out against Lim for setting aside RM24 million for the bumiputera (Islamic affairs) welfare fund, compared with only RM8 million for non-bumiputera affairs (for Chinese, missionary, religious and Tamil schools in Penang).

He also slammed Lim for whining about the higher toll charge for the planned second Penang bridge, which is to be tagged at RM9.40, or 30 percent more than the current amount of RM7 for the existing Penang Bridge.

The crowd booed and jeered, telling Tang "Don't lie", "Go home" and not to speak at the Square as it was reserved for the DAP.

NONE This led to Tang telling the media that a certain state assemblyperson had mobilised a group of DAP members to be present at the Square to hassle him during his presentation.

This was refuted by another senior citizen, Chew Eng Choong, 67, who said he was at the Square to hear the Gerakan speaker as the event was widely publicised by Chinese language newspapers the day before.

Chew had joined the fray that day by waving a Chinese language daily, distracting the audience from Tang's speech.

He, too, had harsh words for Gerakan. He condemned the party for not performing when it had the chance to rule the state for many years right up to 2008.

"Lim and Pakatan Rakyat certainly have done a better job," he added.

NONE Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik ( left ), who was present at the Speakers Square today, challenged Tang to identify the DAP members whom he accused of heckling him during his speech.

"This allegation is totally unfounded as we did not mobilise anyone to do this.

"The senior citizens speak for themselves, for they usually patronise this place, whether rain or shine," said Ng.