Penang Umno intends to file a RM30 million defamation suit against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng after he accused its members of being responsible for a suspected arson attack on the DAP headquarters last month.

Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, penang umno chief The party's liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman (left) said the party had given Lim time to apologise and withdraw his statement but that he had failed to do so.

Although Umno had strongly condemned the incident, Lim had still alleged the next day that the party was behind the crime.

Zainal said Umno is also suing Lim for accusing party members of organising a 'violent' demonstration at Komtar and the Penang bridge in July.

A 23-page police report was lodged in Penang today over the allegations, calling for investigation of the case as criminal defamation and appropriate action against Lim, if the claims are proved.

"We have strongly denied (being involved in the suspected) arson attack or the protest. The protest was actually organised by NGOs, whose members include (those from) PKR and PAS ," he told reporters in Penang today.

He said that, as a politician, he understands that Lim may have been pressured to act because of internal matters, as certain incidents indicate that the DAP is “losing support” in Penang.

"I understand he may be emotional or act in ways in which he does not really intend. As we always have good intentions, we gave him seven days to think things over, apologise and withdraw his statement," he said.

NONE "But before the seven days were up Lim, in a (tweet) to me, asked me to sue him now as he is not afraid of legal action by Umno. So after the Hari Raya holidays, we discussed the matter and instructed our lawyers to act.”

He said the lawyers will send a letter of demand to Lim before filing the summons in court.

"If we win this case, whatever money we get will be channeled to the needy of all races in Penang, not deposited in Umno's account.”

Umno' s intention in taking legal action is to "calm down" the political situation in Penang as the political shenanigans have become unethical.

"We are not willing any more to be reproached without facts or to allow our dignity to be attacked every day. Lim can't just think that he is right and everyone is wrong," he said.

"Hopefully with this case, everyone will be a little careful. Lim is CM and has been given the mandate to rule Penang. He should be more sensitive and not act in a way that would tarnish the office of the chief minister.”

‘Seeds of hatred planted’

Umno used to respond to Lim's accusations with tolerance, Zainal claimed, but said he has gone overboard with incessant accusations against the party over the past three years.

He also said that, since Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang in 2008 and Lim became chief minister, the latter has appeared unable to "adjust, and still acts as if he is in the opposition camp".

Lim, he said, has used every state government or DAP function to hit out at Umno and the federal government, in order to plant seeds of hatred.

"The CM forgets that Umno has 150,000 members in Penang and we are the biggest political association with three million members in the country," said Zainal.

"When you criticise Umno or plant seeds of hatred against us, you are indirectly also doing it to the rakyat who are Umno members.”

NONE On Umno's alleged involvement in the protests, during which Senator Ezam Mohd Nor was arrested and later released by police, Zainal said Umno could not possibly control all of its three million members.

"The protesters had acted under the banner of several NGOs, they were not representing Umno," he claimed.

On the arson attack, Zainal expressed sadness and anger that Lim had gone so far as to drag in the issue of the loudspeaker ban on Quranic verses in Penang mosques.

Guan Eng chided for claiming 'undue credit'