Perkasa, Mamak group bring traffic to a standstill

Athi Shankar | November 30, 2011

Protesters accuse CM's political secretary Ng Wei Aik of humiliating Bangladeshi married to a local and call for his sacking.

GEORGE TOWN: About 300 protesters from Perkasa and Suara Anak Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang caused a massive congestion when they marched against the flow of traffic at noon today.

Their target: Komtar assemblyman and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik who has been accused of humiliating a Bangladeshi married to a local woman.

The protesters demanded that Ng quit immediately as Komtar assemblyman and also called on Lim to sack Ng as his political secretary.

Police detained 11 people including the protest leader, Perkasa’s north-east district chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin, for the commotion.

All were released after having their statements recorded at the city police headquarters.
Anak-Anak Mamak leader Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman, who was his usual boisterous uncouth self, however, was not detained.

The protesters gathered outside Continental Hotel in upper Penang Road at 12 noon before marching against the flow of traffic in the direction of Komtar, a kilometer away.

Once they reached the Komtar in Lebuh Teck Soon, the protesters, with some sitting on the road, chanted anti-Pakatan Rakyat, anti-Ng and anti-Lim slogans for over an hour.

Ng denies allegation

About 100 police personnel, including two Light Strike Force (LSF) units, were at the scene. The demonstration caused massive traffic congestion all over the city at peak lunch hour.

Sarimah Packeer Mohamed, 43, lodged a police report last week alleging Ng humiliated her husband, a Bangladeshi national, in public during Ng’s visit to a fire site in Jalan Gurdwara.

The fire razed three shophouses on Nov 22. Ng allegedly accused Sarimah and her husband of masterminding the fire which originated from a nearby unit owned by a senior citizen.

Ng denied Sarimah’s allegations, claiming that he only demanded Sarimah and her husband to close their illegal goods recycling business.

Police recorded a statement from Ng to assist in the case investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code. This was not the first time Ng had been a target.

Earlier this year, Ng was accused of telling off a Nasi Kandar restaurant operator to “go back to India.”
After the protest today, Rizuad, accompanied by colleagues, handed over a memorandum to Chief Minister’s official representative Zuliana Aziz.