A Gerakan youth leader today ticked off Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for practising double standards with the application of the Sedition Act.

NONE Penang Gerakan youth secretary H'ng Chee Wey said Lim had suggested to the police two days ago to probe those involved in false rumour-mongering against the DAP-led state government under the Sedition Act.

However, H'ng recalled that Lim and other DAP leaders have several times in the past opposed the authorities for using the Sedition Act against certain quarters, claiming the legislation to be a draconian law like the Internal Security Act.

"Is Lim and the DAP for or against the use of the Sedition Act?

"The people are confused.

"As Penang chief minister and DAP leader, he should not practice double standards," said H'ng in a statement.

On Wednesday, Lim had hit out at a blog site for spreading false rumours via blog posts and short text messages to incite hatred against the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

Referring to a posting on the blog 'Pemuda Umno Nibong Tebal', Lim questioned why the police were only investigating the case under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation but not under the Sedition Act.

"If the police are independent and brave enough then they should take stern action (against the bloggers)," he told newsmen.

Lim's call however baffles H'ng, who hit out at the chief minister for "practicing double standards according to his whims and fancies and to suit his taste."

Pakatan forgetful

H'ng reminded Lim that at an Oct 17 function this year, Lim had pledged that Pakatan Rakyat would abolish the 1984 Printing and Publishing Act, ISA and Sedition Act if the coalition were to form the next federal government.

He also recalled that Lim had made similar promises at the 15th DAP national delegates conference.

H'ng implied that double standards had become a feature of Lim's governance.

He claimed that Lim had also practiced double standards by declassifying the state official minutes on the controversial seafront land conversion in George Town heritage zone, but not on the Kampung Buah Pala controversy.

NONE "Until today, Lim has not declassified his exco minutes on the Kampung Buah Pala deliberations, though he did admit that the issue was discussed in the meetings," he said.

Earlier today, Lim had said his exco minutes were not released because his state government did not approve any land alienation pertaining to Kampung Buah Pala, which was once known as the Tamil High Chaparral.

Yesterday Penang Gerakan youth chief Oh Tong Keong also accused Lim of practicing double standards in declassifying minutes on the seafront land deal issue while refusing to do so in the Kampung Buah Pala case.