Penang executive councillors are demanding that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein direct the police to protect and ensure the safety of the chief minister and journalists from violence perpetrated by Umno and Perkasa.

NONE At a press conference yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman ( left ) said other women and men were also injured before Lim Guan Eng arrived at the scene.

This is contrary to Umno’s assertion that a fracas which left two journalists hurt, only happened after Lim’s provoked pro-Lynas supporters in his speech, he added.

Mansor, who is state PKR chief, also expressed regret that a team of police present at the scene did not protect Lim or protect the journalists from being assaulted.

 

“The attempt by Umno to blame Lim for provocation is like trying to cover up their guilt ( baling batu sembunyi tangan ).

 

This is because the rioters had assaulted others even before Lim arrived at the venue,” he added.

Mansor said the state executive councillors want Hishammuddin to direct the police to take severe action against the rioters.

He regretted that the police had shown their negligence when they had failed to prevent the assault of journalists during another rally at Komtar, on July 1, last year, which was also attended by Umno and Perkasa members.

Pakatan supporters facing violent treatment

 Failure to act against the rioters will encourage them to threaten the CM and hurt more journalists in the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mansor said the rising trend where Pakatan Rakyat supporters are facing violent treatment is alarming.

NONE He cited several incidents including the damage incurred by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrhaim’s vehicle in Johor and when the Penang DAP headquarters was attacked by arsonists last year.

He also cited another shocking incident where a dead chicken was found hanging by its bloody throat with one feet dismembered at the gate of Anwar’s service centre in Penang recently.

“This incident is serious. It means you could be slaughtered like a chicken,” he said.

At the same press conference, Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said that there had been several rallies for the past four years against Lim and Pakatan in Penang.

“We have never asked our members to confront them, we let the people to express their opinions, so why are they coming to disrupt other people’s gathering?” questioned the state PKR vice-chief.

Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin conveyed Anwar’s message that he was very concerned about the incidents in Penang.

“Anwar left for Pakistan after the Kuantan rally but he wants to express his condemnation for what had happened to Lim and the journalists in Penang,” said the PKR Bayan Baru division chief.

Also present at the press conference were state exco member and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow and senator Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yussof.

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