Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin has denied that he had claimed PKR vice-president Tian Chua owns a Mercedes Benz S-class, clarifying that he had used the word “uses” rather than “owns”.

“In my speech to the annual Penang Gerakan state youth delegates conference on Sept 17, I did refer that Tian Chua ‘uses’ a Mercedes Benz but I did not say that he ‘owns’ a Mercedes Benz," he said in a press statement today.

gerakan ndc 311009 lim si pin Lim ( left ), however, admitted that he may have confused Chua’s Mercedes Benz E-Class with an S-Class.

“I regret that I may have made a mistake in identifying the current Mercedes Benz E-class owned by Tian Chua to be a Mercedes Benz S-Class. The mistake is deeply regrettable and shall not be repeated again.”

The statement comes after Tian Chua issued a 24-hour ultimatum yesterday for Lim to apologise or face a defamation suit.

Lim’s claim that the Batu MP drives a RM800,000 vehicle on a salary of RM8,000, according to Tian Chua, insinuated that he was corrupt.

But Lim denies that he had any such intention.

“There is no intention on my part to insinuate anyone of either being engaged in any irregular or corrupt practices as my speech was centred on current political developments in Penang and not meant to be an attack on Tian Chua.”

Challenge for a debate

Meanwhile, PKR Youth information chief Lee Khai Loon issued a challenge against Lim for a debate, demanding that he respond within 48 hours or a delegation from the wing will submit a letter of challenge at the Gerakan headquarters.

“The title of the debate will be ‘Should the change of government be portrayed as changing wives?’ The date and time can be decided by Gerakan Youth,” said Lee in a press statement today.

Lim was alleged to have described the change of the Penang government as akin to a man who has been married for a long time, would then “naturally” seek out a mistress.

“AMK (Angkatan Muda Keadilan) is of the opinion that all Gerakan members should attend gender sensitivity classes to learn respect for women and their contribution to society,” said Lee.