Umno, Perkasa members threatened me, Guan Eng claims

February 28, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today claimed Umno and Perkasa members had made threats against him during an anti-Lynas rally in Penang at the weekend.

He alleged that the threats were made at the Speakers’ Corner in Padang Kota Lama, Penang on Sunday, which he said about 100 Umno and Perkasa members had tried to disrupt.

“They used foul language, curse words and racial epithets such as ‘Cina babi, Penang Cina bodoh, babi sokong Lim Guan Eng ketua menteri’,” he said in a statement.

“The Umno Perkasa members surged forward, pointing their fists at me, again using racist language and threatening words like ‘you jaga’. If not for members of public ringing me in protection, I believe they would have attacked me.”

Lim (picture), who is also DAP secretary-general, said the Umno and Perkasa members who were standing less than a metre from him continued to create a ruckus during his speech.

He alleged that the “violent behaviour” did not stop even after he got into his official state government car to leave, claiming the counter-protesters hit and spat on the vehicle and did not permit it to leave.

“Should anything happen to me, Umno and Perkasa will have to bear responsibility,” he said, adding that he had lodged a police report against the alleged threats.

Lim said he was shocked that Barisan Nasional (BN), especially Penang Umno and Gerakan, continued to support the allegedly violent conduct of Umno and Perkasa supporters to the point of trying to blame him for the disturbance.

Sunday’s rally in Penang was held in solidarity with Himpunan Hijau 2.0 in Kuantan, which saw thousands turn up to demonstrate against the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, some 25km from the east coast city.

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