At a time where state governments should be making last minute preparations to herald the arrival of the Chinese New Year, the Penang government is scrambling to fend off allegations of racism.

Of late, it has been besieged by the Penang Malay Chambers of Commerce (DPMPP) and Federation of Peninsular Malaysia Students Associations (GPMS).

The two groups have been hurling accusations that the DAP-led state government has been marginalising and repressing the Malays.

 

In retaliation, the Penang government is  printing 10,000 leaflets to rebut the allegations. It is  uncertain when the documents will be distributed.

The Penang government will also hold two rallies in key Malay areas on the eve of Chinese New Year, although political activities normally ease up during festive seasons.

The first will be held at the Tapak Expo, Seberang Jaya on Friday and the other  in Permatang Pasir the following day.

Pakatan leaders are expected to make their case on current affairs, and stress that land office and municipal council enforcement teams take action based on non-compliance of regulations and not race.

'Molesting women and children'

The Penang government has traditionally been the target of Malay interest groups, even during  the Gerakan-led government, allegedly for marginalising the community which makes up the second largest ethnic group in the state.

The latest salvo came from DPMPP president Rizal Faris Mohideen who claims that enforcement officers are more inclined to penalise Malay small traders than those of Chinese descent.

"The demonstration last Friday was just a small step and we will mobilise other NGOs at the national level to end his tyranny and violence against Malays in Penang.

“We won't let them come into our homes and molest our wives and children and we will fight back. If we do not nip this parasite in the bud, he (Lim) will worsen.

"I will fight this liar who is hiding behind a skirt. He is not good for Penang and should relinquish his position to a Penangite who would do a better job than him," said Rizal, according the online version of business publication The Edge .

Rizal also warned that a repeat of the Kampung Rawa racial clash in 1998 can recur if the problems faced by the Malays are not addressed.

"We do not want another Kampung Rawa incident in Penang and I fear for my Chinese and Indian friends if that were to happen. Two years after taking over and despite repeated calls from us, he has turned a deaf ear to the plight of Malays in the state”.

State wants police to act

In response, Lim’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik today held a press conference to demand Rizal withdraw the remarks within three days or face police reports citing him for sedition.

Ng accused Rizal of trying to incite another Kampung Rawa incident and said the latter is solely responsible should this happen.

“He is fanning racist sentiments. He is trying to instigate another (Kampung Rawa) incident. We will not compromise,” he said.

Ng urged the police to take immediate action, adding that other leaders would have been swiftly nabbed by the police under the Internal Security Act.

“What did he mean when he said: ‘We won't let them come into our homes and molest our wives and children’. He should qualify his claims that the state government violates women and children,” said an irate Ng.

He stressed that the state government has repeatedly issued statistics to disprove Rizal’s accusations, adding that this has also been presented to the federal-level Malay Chambers of Commerce when they met Lim on Feb 9.