The thorny issue of Penang’s stern action against illegal hawkers has drawn DAP and Gerakan into a spat, with each trying to imply that the other is playing the racial card .

Today, Gerakan condemned the DAP for taking a “racial stand” when the latter requested clarification on its views, perceived to be the opposite of  Umno’s, which often protests any action against stalls owned by Malays.

Gerakan, however, insisted that the complaints came from residents living at a prestigious condominium in Bayan Mutiara. Thus, when the party highlighted the issue at a press conference in Penang yesterday, it had “nothing to do with Umno”.

The former ruling party’s public and complaints bureau chief Dr Kiew Han Chong said none of the complainants who raised the issue of the hawkers “tarnishing the image of the area” at the press conference were Gerakan members.

Grievances included illegal traders operating along the stretch of beach  fronting the D’Residence, a newly-completed million-ringgit housing project near the state’s free trade zone area, where the residents live.

“If the state government's action is right , we will support it as we did when they tore down the illegal Do Re Mi café,” said Kiew when contacted.

“This is not the first time that we have asked the state to take action against illegal vendors, so what does it have to do with Umno?” he asked.

Kiew was responding to state executive councillor Ng Wei Aik’s statement that Barisan Nasional leaders must present a common stand on whether they want the authorities to take action against illegal hawkers.

Between a rock and hard place

NONE Ng ( right ), who is Komtar state assemblyperson, said the state does not want to be caught in a situation where Gerakan leaders want action but their Umno colleagues condemn it.

“We always find that the positions taken on a lot of issues by the Umno and Gerakan leaders are not consistent, including the action taken against illegal hawkers and structures,” he said in a statement to the press today.

“The state authorities are not going to be misled by certain Gerakan leaders who portray themselves as heroes of their community, but fail to get Umno’s endorsement for their political stand.”

Ng said he suspected that Kiew had made the issue public because “certain Gerakan leaders own luxury apartments in D’Residence”, and urged  him to reveal details.

However, in rebuttal, Kiew insisted that this was not the reason why the party highlighted the issue, adding that there were probably DAP members too living in the condominiums.

“They are not sincere in championing the people’s cause, but are trying to protect their own cronies’ interests,” Ng shot back.

“They have blamed us for taking action against illegal hawkers, as had happened at the Kek Lok Si Temple when the enforcement team tore down an illegal stall erected on state land,” he added.