Penang MCA has “chastised” the two protests held outside the personal residences of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Bersih chief S Ambiga on Thursday.

NONE State MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang ( right ) in a statement yesterday said despite her views on Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 3.0, the two protests “must be chastised” for intruding on families and neighbours.

However Tan managed to take a swipe at her rivals pointing out that during the 2008 general election campaign period, Pakatan Rakyat supporters had also "misused" her photo in a funeral rite.

Back then, Pakatan candidates and leaders did not chide their supporters for this “debased stunt”, said Tan.

"Although Pakatan supporters did this to me, I do not condone and will condemn such similar actions taken on any political rival," said the former Jawi assemblyperson.

Tan was referring to a group of 30 Perkasa members who held a mock funeral for Lim outside his residence in Pinhorn Road, to indicate that he is "dead" to the Malays for allegedly ignoring their plight.

On the same day a hawkers’ group Ikhlas also held an anti-Bersih protest outside Ambiga's house in Kuala Lumpur, which the latter called an “invasion of privacy” and a “terrible precedent”.

‘Leave the families alone’

Tan said she condemned the two protests despite disagreeing with Bersih’s position and their methods.

Tan urged all detractors against Lim and Bersih organisers to leave their respective family members and neighbours alone.

NONE "They are innocent and neutral parties and should not be subjected to bad-mannered behaviour, particularly in one’s private residence, when ... political differences abound," she said.

"Detractors should resort to the law by filing whatever claims they may have against Guan Eng or Bersih in court," she added.

"If they insist, then stage a peaceful protest outside the Komtar building, Bersih headquarters in accordance with the law after notifying the authorities and receiving the nod," she said.

She however suggested that the “disturbing subsequent reactions” of Perkasa and Ikhlas “or street demonstration spiralling out of control” were consequences of the opposition or Bersih constantly calling on the masses to take to the streets.