Penang MCA has kicked off 2013 by firing a salvo against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for “politicising” his Christmas and New Year messages.

NONE "Is he chief minister for all Penangites or only for Pakatan Rakyat?" asked MCA religious affairs bureau chief Lee Hack Teik (left in photo) at a press conference today.

He was accompanied by state MCA Bayan Baru division secretary David Yim and other local MCA leaders.

Lee said Lim has not learnt his lesson, citing the storm raised in several quarters because his Christmas message had urged the federal government to allow Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use 'Allah' in the Malay-language Bible.

"He did not expect that even his allies in PAS and PKR have made a U-turn and slammed him for this," Lee said.

NONE PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali and information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (left) had said the word should not be used in the Malay-language Bible, as the correct translation should be 'Tuhan'.

Several Malay-Muslim NGOs have demanded an apology from Lim and a retraction of his statement.

But DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh rose to Lim's defence , saying he did not mean to hurt Muslim sensitivities.

Advice for Lim

Lee further claimed that Lim has played with public sentiments by saying that Malaysia is not as competitive as Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.

"He again mentioned a Christian state. Our advice to Lim, who seems to have lost his ideals, is to be knowledgeable and be charitable. Don't do it without knowledge,” Lee said.

“Pride comes before a downfall. No matter how good you are at throwing stones, you will eventually get yourself burned [sic] ."

dapsy agm 091212 lim guan eng Lee warned Lim (left) not to exploit festive occasions to raise religious and political issues as this would "destroy the harmony between races".

He added that Lim's intention was merely to fish for votes from Christians and to use issues to divert attention from the recent controversy surrounding DAP and PAS over a land matter in Kelantan.

In telling Malaysians to note the success of the three neighbouring countries, Lim had said yesterday that the people should ensure that bad behaviour is not rewarded but punished, and that they should “reject BN with corruption in their DNA”.

"Lies and fear tactics that change will bring about a Christian state or an Islamic state no longer work when ultimately what makes people’s lives better is the KPI,” he added.