About 50 Penang BN Youth members held a demonstration outside the controversial Taman Manggis land along busy Jalan Burmah in Penang today, demanding that it be used for public housing for the poor.

The group, which included members of ultra Malay NGOs Gerakan Merah Malaysia and Perkasa, spilled onto Jalan Burmah, causing a traffic jam and shouted anti-Lim Guan Eng slogans, while waving banners.

Among those in the crowd were Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim, state BN Youth chief H’ng Chee Way, Gerakan Merah Malaysia chief Ali Baharom aka Ali Tinju, and state Perkasa Youth chief Rizuad Azzudin.

Among the messages on their banners were “ Lim Guan Eng mau dok rehat sat jadi CM (Lim Guan Eng should rest awhile from being CM)”, “ Lim Guan Eng perampas tanah rakyat termiskin (Lim Guan Eng has robbed the land of the poor)” and “ Lim Guan Eng wajib berehat (It is a must for Lim Guan Eng to go on leave)”.

Police stopped the protest - which started at 3pm - on the road after several minutes and the leaders went on to give a press conference.

The group was referring to Lim's purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow allegedly at below market price, and its supposed link to the Taman Manggis land sale.

The issue became a controversy after Umno Tasek Gelugor MP Shahbudin Yahaya accused Lim of corruption in Parliament on March 17.

NGOs such as the Malaysian Bar, Human Rights Society, and Lim’s opponents have been pressuring him to go on leave, pending the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigation into the bungalow purchase.

However, Lim has refused to go on leave, denying he has committed any wrong-doing as the 30-year old house was purchased in 2015 on a willing buyer-willing seller basis.

Lim also said that the Taman Manggis land sale was by an open tender committee chaired by the state secretary and not him.