Acknowledging the right to protest, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today the invasion of privacy and “personal space” of individuals was contrary to democratic principles.

“It is the right of every Malaysian to be able to protest his or her own issues, but to do so by intruding into personal space and invading the privacy of family homes or wishing for the death of anyone is utterly vile, completely disrespectful and contrary to the basic tenets of democracy,” Lim said.

NONE Lim said this in response to Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, which conducted a mock funeral rite outside his house.

He also rapped the police for their inaction to a death threat against him, as the chief minister of the state.

“Clearly, this is the first time that such a 'death wish' or 'death threat' has been made against a chief minister.

“What is equally clear is that the police present were indifferent and did not stop the Perkasa members from violating my private space,” Lim said.

Yesterday Penang Perkasa Youth chief Risuan Asuddin led about 30 members to stage a protest in front of Lim’s residence in Penang, and they placed a framed photo of the CM, garlanded, signifying a deceased person.

The group was allegedly unhappy with Lim rule of Penang since 2008.

Burger protesters ‘unlicensed’

Lim also slammed the ‘ burger stall protest ’ outside Bersih chairperson S Ambiga’s house, in particular the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), for not taking action against the illegal hawking.

“I fail to understand how DBKL can allow a burger stall to be set up outside a private residence, with impunity, in Kuala Lumpur?

NONE “By failing to act against the ‘burger protest’ set up illegally outside S Ambiga's house, BN and DBKL are subjecting her to undue harassment, intimidation and invasion of privacy.

“Will DBKL allow a similar protest outside the private home of ministers or the KL mayor’s residence?

“Is rule of law in Malaysia now replaced by rule of the jungle?”Lim asked.

He added that the act of cooking meat outside Ambiga’s house was “extremely disrespectful” as the Bersih chief is a vegetarian.

Yesterday, a group of traders staged a protest outside Ambiga’s house, alleging that the Bersih 3.0 rally for clean and fair elections had caused them business losses.