A small group of protesters gathered outside Komtar to demand the resignation of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his corruption charges.

"It's no longer a CAT (competent, accountable and transparent) government, but a government of ‘capati, apom and thosai’ (which are Indian food items)," said the group’s leader Ahmad Yakqub Nazri.

He added that the group was represented by individuals of all races who want to see Lim step down from his post, which he has held since 2008.

Ahmad Yakqub said the group would be holding similar small-scale protests in future.

The protesters also carried banners which, among others read, ‘Where is your CAT? The CAT is dead?” and “No to corruption, please resign”.

Lim has claimed trial and described the charges as political persecution, which the government has denied.

 

 

Accompanying Ahmad Yakqub at the rally were Gabungan Perwakilan Melayu Pulau Pinang chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin and Arshad Kassim, who spoke at the event.

While Ahmad Yakqub is current exco member of Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung, Rizuad is the former Penang Perkasa youth chief, a common face at rallies against Lim, the DAP secretary-general.

Ahmad Yakqup condemned any attempt by DAP to call for snap polls in Penang to gauge the people's support for Lim (photo).

"Just because he got arrested (by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), he wants snap polls. If he wins, he just wants to show that the people are still with him.

"Election or not, the case goes on; Penangites are watching how MACC conducts the case," he added.

"If possible, let's have a big screen so that we can see how MACC reveals the evidence one by one," he said.

DAP has said snap polls was merely an option the party was considering following Lim's arrest and corruption charges.

State DAP chief-cum-executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow described it as an "old issue", adding that no decision has been made about the matter.

'Worse than a communist gov't'

Ahmad Yakqub claimed Penangites are disappointed that Lim could no longer rule the state as he merely "takes care of himself".

He described Penang ruled by Lim as a "communist government".

"It is worse than a communist government, at least they have houses for the poor but this government failed to do that," he said.

Ahmad Yakqub said Lim and his state excos could afford to buy luxury homes for themselves while Penangites have low incomes and could not afford to buy homes.

"State government leaders are double-faced, they live in homes worth millions but there is not a single project for cheap homes in Penang.

"How can we have a CM who is involved in corruption?

"We have a stupid, shallow, arrogant and corrupt chief minister," he said.

The rally ended in 15 minutes, and the crowd, including many plainclothes police and special branch officers, dispersed quietly with no untoward incidents.

Asked when the next protest will be held, Ahmad Yakqub merely said: "We will inform you."