Penang: Massive Illegal UMNO Street Mob Protests Anti-NEP

Above is Poster #3 from Malaysian Politics Motivational Posters

Hey Super-Najib, where are you! Aren’t you supposed to pop your head up and decry street protests as ‘not Malaysian culture’ right about now?

Oh, I forgot… You’re a documented racist who’s super biased towards your UMNOputra mob!

Which is making a ruckus over nothing… See the second news report for why.

See also this post for how UMNO-led race baiting is likely causing all of this unrest. And they have the nerve to call Lim the racist! Cuh!

• Videos at Susan Loone: Video on Umno rally in Penang

• Photos at Susan Loone: Photos and story on Umno rally in Penang

• Jeff Ooi: Utusan and Bernama – The Utusan-Bernama ruckus started when Guan Eng announced all government procurements in Penang will be through open tender — something that the NEP did not address and went on to create cronies and entrench corruption in the system. I hope the next time Umno leaders took to the streets to stoke people’s sentiments along racial lines, you know who is to blame.

• Lulu Wants To Protest For The Sake Of Protesting – Police very friendly to illegal demonstrators, instead of breaking heads with shield bashes.

• Lulu Wonders If Lee Chong Meng Would Fly Down To Penang And Fend The ShopOwners There

• Lulu Is Like, “Gee, Don’t These Guys Know That The Government That They Love So Much Has Decreed That ‘Ini Bukan Budaya Kita’?”

UPDATE 16 March 08: Even Gerakan’s Koh notices the hypocrisy of UMNO!!! See third news report. Trying to rebuild Chinese confidence in his failed party?

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From The Star 15 March 2008:

Lim’s remarks spark protest

By TUNKU SHAHARIAH, BERNARD SEE and DHARMENDER SINGH

Street protest in Penang 

PENANG: A big crowd, comprising mostly Umno members and supporters, took to the streets around Komtar after Friday prayers yesterday to protest against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remarks on the New Economic Policy (NEP).  

Chanting slogans, the protesters marched towards Komtar in Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong at about 2.30pm. 

Angry crowd: Umno members and supporters protesting in front of Komtar in Penang yesterday over Guan Eng’s remarks on the NEP.

The protest was held in response to Lim’s statement that DAP-PKR would run the government “free from the NEP that breeds cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency.” 

Speaking to reporters, Bukit Mertajam Umno division chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said the state Umno would hand over a four-point memorandum to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas next week in protest of Guan Eng’s statement. 

Tanjung Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar denied the protest was led by the state Umno and claimed the Malays had gathered in response to Short Message Service texts which were circulated yesterday. 

He said the DAP-led government had not respected the rights of the Malays and that the Penang Malays “wanted them out.” 

Voicing their concern: Protesters holding banners outside the state mosque in Shah Alam yesterday.

At 3.30pm, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid advised the protesters to disperse, using a loud hailer.  

They only left when five trucks, including one equipped with water cannon from the Federal Reserve Unit arrived 30 minutes later. 

Acting state police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said no untoward incidents were reported but two men were brought back for questioning. 

Guan Eng said Umno leaders need not take to the streets as they can always meet him on issues affecting Penang Malays. 

PKR has lodged a police report on Thursday night over an attempt to incite people to protest against the new state government. 

“There were irresponsible people spreading rumours and we want to make it clear that PKR is in no way involved. 

“Clearly it was meant to create racial tension among the people. As far as PKR is concerned, we accept and support the new state executive council appointments,” PKR Bayan Baru information chief Annuar Ismail said after lodging the police report. 

In SHAH ALAM, another group marched from the state mosque to the state secretariat building here to stage a similar protest. 

The crowd gathered at the roundabout near the mosque just after the Friday prayers.  

They stopped in front of a line formed by police Light Strike Force personnel about 150m from the main entrance to the building, continued with their protest and left peacefully about 20 minutes later. 

Shah Alam Deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Mohd Shariff Abdul Wahid said police were aware of the planned gathering and confirmed that no permit had been issued for it. 

Meanwhile, Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, which the SMS had purportedly said to have called for the abolishment of the NEP in Selangor, denied ever saying such a thing. 

“I have never asked Tan Sri Khalid to abolish the NEP in Selangor,” she said.  

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To clear things up about ‘abolishing the NEP’, read the following:

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From The Star March 15 2008:

Support from Muslim NGOs

By DERRICK VINESH and NG SU-ANN

PENANG: Twenty–two Muslim non-governmental organisations have expressed support for the state government’s call for transparency in implementing the New Economic Policy (NEP). 

Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) Penang adviser Dr Danial Zainal Abidin said representatives from the organisations met Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday morning and realised that the state government was not against the NEP. 

Cordial meeting: Lim greeting the representatives from the 22 Muslim non-governmental organisations in Penang yesterday.

“Lim told us that he had no intention of throwing away the NEP. He, however, mentioned that it had been tainted with cronyism and corruption, and that is what he wants to throw away, not the entire NEP. 

“So, if that is the idea, then we agree with him,” he said after a dialogue session with Lim at Komtar yesterday.  

Lim had on his first day as Chief Minister said he would practise an open tender policy for the awarding of contracts and projects to prevent cronyism and corruption. 

Dr Danial said Islam stressed on transparency and justice not only for Muslims but also for all religions and races and that the NGOs want the government to be transparent and clean.  

“I think YAB has listened and agreed to what we said. If he can fulfil these, then it is in line with Islamic regulations and rules,” he said. 

Dr Danial said the NGOs were concerned about the fate of Penang Malays and Islamic institutions after hearing talk that the new state government might curb their activities. 

He said the NGOs had asked Lim on the state’s policy concerning mosques, suraus, Sekolah Agama Rakyat as well as on the problems faced by the Malays in Tanjung Tokong. 

“Lim has answered them well and we hope he can fulfil the state’s promises,” he said. 

When met by reporters later, Lim told the people to stop listening to rumours that the Penang Malays would be marginalised under the DAP-PKR coalition rule. 

“Before being sworn-in as Chief Minister, I went to Tanjung Tokong to find out about the problems faced by the Malays there. 

“So, I wish to reiterate that we are a government for all Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion and background,” he said. 

Meanwhile, JIM’s women wing chief Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj believed that the Malays were ready to compete on a level playing field with the other races if the NEP were to be abolished. 

“The change in the political landscape is a wakeup call for the Malays. They should be showing that they deserve certain positions based on merit, and not on the Malay quota.  

“That is the message that should be conveyed to the younger generation of Malays. On one hand, the Malays are happy with changes, but on the other hand, they are shocked with the consequences,” she added.  

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From The Star 16 March 2008:

Koh: Street demos not proper way to convey views

PENANG: Barisan Nasional component parties must keep to the stand that street demonstrations are not the proper way to convey views and express feelings, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said. 

He said this was especially important in a multi-racial society. 

The former chief minister said this has been the stand of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Barisan top leadership. 

“We have to be consistent,” he said when commenting on Friday’s street demonstration by Penang Umno members and supporters at Komtar. 

Dr Koh said street demonstrations may serve to allow people to vent their grievances or feelings. 

“However, as often pointed out by Barisan’s top leaders, such acts may heighten tension and even lead to conflicts if they get out of hand,” he said. 

He added that the freedom of assembly should be used wisely and effectively. 

Dr Koh said that holding forums and seminars, and presenting memorandums with concrete proposals supported by facts and figures, would be a more fruitful way.  

Hypocrisy Meter from theblogprof.

Tags: DAP, Malaysia General Election 2008, Malaysia politics, NEP, NEP protest, New Economic Policy, Penang politics, Penang protest, Penang UMNO rally, UMNOputra