Guan Eng is the 'hypocritical chameleon', says PCM

Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) says it is “appalled” at how the current state government is outrageously practising double-standards, double-talk and double-speak.

PCM vice-chief Huan Cheng Guan (left) has accused Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of setting rules but later breaking them to suit his party’s needs.

He was referring to the use of loudspeakers and megaphones - which are currently prohibited - at Penang’s Speakers Square along the Esplanade.

According to media reports, said Huan, “DAP guardians” used a loudhailer to shout at state BN Youth chief Oh Tong Keong when he began his ‘Penang for Sale’ talk on a mobile truck at the venue recently.

The DAP guardians Huan was referring to are a group of senior citizens who are often at the Speakers Square to hear the speeches, and most of the time coming to the defence of Lim whenever he is being criticised by his opponents.

“There is freedom of expression as promised by the CM but this only exists when the speaker is saying things that the CM wants to hear,” said Huan.

“Those privileges do not seem to apply for BN leaders or gatherings,” he added.

“Lim had threatened to use the illegal gathering laws on the state BN for their illegal ceramah at the Esplanade grounds last weekend,” alleged Huan.

‘Loudhailers can be used with permission’

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, had responded to the accusations in the media by saying his administration believes in freedom of speech, “which is why the first Speakers’ Square in Malaysia was set up in Penang more than two years ago”.

He added that anyone can just go up and freely speak during the allotted time from 6pm-8pm every Wednesday and Sunday without needing to register or ask the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) for approval.

“To ensure that there would be no police action for illegal assembly and that there will be no public disorder, no megaphones or loudspeakers are allowed,” Lim had said.

“MPPP would only allow megaphones for certain functions if there was a prior application,” he added.

“In the incident between the senior citizens and BN, the coalition had bullied the senior citizens by challenging them with loudspeakers,” Lim counter alleged.

The Bagan MP said that MPPP would enforce its rules prohibiting loudspeakers as this is illegal, adding that this statement should not be viewed or distorted as implying that he “opposed any assembly there as illegal”.

‘Laws mere shadow play’

Meanwhile, Huan continued to question Lim for creating a “smokescreen” by legislating Penang’s Freedom of Information Actand its CAT policy to promote competency, accountability and transparency.

Huan said that while this had been implemented, none other than the same CM barred newspapers which dared to criticise him, his policies or his politics.

“He has even sued one for defamation and went into a fit, threatening to sue reporters who dared to write on the Rainbow (Guan Eng’s alleged affair with a former staff member) issue,” said Huan.

Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew had vehemently denied that such an affair had taken place.  

“Such state legislation appears to be mere shadow play. Who bends the laws at his whims and fancies just so he can launch his master plan?” asked Huan.