Karpal: I’ll declare assets when CM asks for it

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has no problem declaring his assets and will do so when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng calls for all local MPs to declare their assets.

“I have always advocated that all elected representatives publicly declare their assets. I welcome and fully support the Chief Minister’s recommendation that MPs in Penang declare their assets, and I will do so in due time,” he said yesterday.

However, the Bukit Gelugor MP said he would not respond to every single call from other parties and individuals such as Penang Bar Committee criminal law chairman Ranjit Singh Dhillon over the issue.

“I do not have the time to respond to this kind of people,” he said.


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Penang Pakatan reps declare assets

All Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen in Penang have declared all the assets that they own.

Last year, only the state executive councillors were instructed to make a public declaration of their assets.

However, the declaration does not cover the properties owned by the assemblymen’s spouses and children.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that Penang is the first state in the country to introduce this practice.

“We are fulfilling the Pakatan’s election manifesto. We had promised that the declaration of assets would be extended to all assemblymen,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

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In uproar over pre-Merdeka film, Guan Eng points out BN’s communism link

Lim Guan Eng today labelled Umno Youth and Utusan Malaysia “hypocrites” for criticising local flick “The New Village” over its portrayal of communism, reminding them that one of its own, Khairy Jamaluddin, had once established an alliance with the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China.

The DAP secretary-general said Khairy, now a minister and Umno Youth’s chief, had in his capacity as the Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chairman, announced the formation of a permanent secretariat in October 2009 to strengthen ties with the CYL.

At the time, Lim claimed Khairy had said that the secretariat was a “party-to-party” direct linkage between both movements and would serve as a platform to facilitate continuous bilateral programmes and promote a stronger bond between BN Youth and the CYL.

“And yet no action is taken when Khairy knowingly, consciously and intentionally establishes a direct linkage through a permanent secretariat with the CYL,” the Penang chief minister said in a statement.


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Little chance of setting up new party if DAP de-registered, says RoS

If the Registrar of Societies (RoS) decides to de-register DAP, its members have been told not to harbour hopes of setting up a new party, The Star reported today.

RoS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said they would not likely entertain requests for a new party.

“They can apply. But the right to approve is with the RoS. We did not even entertain 29 applications to set up new parties submitted over the last five years," he said.

Abdul Rahman was commenting on a plan by DAP members to set up a new party if DAP was de-registered, following complaints of election fraud in the party's central executive committee (CEC) election in December.

The director-general, when asked, said it was up to the party members to determine if the party should call for a fresh CEC election, adding that the party was now in limbo as the CEC was not recognised.

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Haul up Utusan over ‘false news’, DAP demands

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia must be punished for disseminating “false news” that the police planned to use the Sedition Act over the Seri Pristana fiasco, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded today.

According to the Bagan MP, this was a new low even for the newspaper that “openly called for the bloody May 13 racial riots that killed thousands of innocent Malaysians to be celebrated as a holy day.”

“Nothing is beyond Utusan Malaysia,” Lim (picture) said in a statement.

“[The] public had had enough of lies spread by Utusan Malaysia to foment fear and hate amongst Malaysia’s multi-religious society.”

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Kedah MB to meet Penang CM over proposed raw water sale

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir will meet Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to discuss the proposed raw water sale between the two states.
Mukhriz pointed out that it was Lim who had broached the idea to hold a meeting to discuss the matter, but the date had yet to be fixed.

"Lim may have misunderstood our intention of proposing the DAP-led state government to pay for raw water sourced from rivers in Kedah.

"We meant well and all we want to do is to discuss with Penang a win-win approach which will benefit both states.

"However, Lim had rejected the idea even before we could convey our intention and present the proposal to him," he said when met at Kampung Pida Tiga here on Friday.

Mukhriz said he felt that as neighbours, Penang and Kedah could help each others in many aspects if only Lim would act more positively.

He said talks on the proposal had been held by both states at the official-level and he believed that it should be continued at the state government level.

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Sukma scandal: Female athletes may be barred from future games if safety not assured, says Penang CM

Female athletes from Penang may not be allowed to take part in future Sukma Games if their safety is not assured, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Tuesday.

He said an independent inquiry should be carried out on the “shameful” rape incident at the just concluded Games.

“This is to ensure there will not be a repeat of such shameful incidents or else Penang may reconsider sending its female athletes to future Sukma Games,” he said in a statement here.

Lim said the state government wants clear assurances from Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin on adequate security and that action would be taken against those responsible for lax security in University Putra Malaysia.

“If Khairy fails to provide such assurances, then the state government may reconsider sending female athletes to future Sukma Games,” he said.

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Penang state assembly: Guan Eng apologises for no Q&A

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has apologised for the lack of question and answer session during the current sitting, saying Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) has been appointed to handle matters related to the state assembly.

Lim said Jagdeep would be fully responsible for the state legislative assembly to ensure that matter such as the Q&A session would not be dropped in future.

"Jagdeep Singh's role will be to review the recommendation and advice (from the state legal advisor) to ensure the effective functioning of parliamentary democracy as well as to hold talks with the opposition leader after receiving guidance from the Speaker," he said in his winding up speech at the 13th state legislative assembly sitting.


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Guan Eng: Death of Japanese man gives ‘international relevance’ to IPCMC calls

The demand for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) now has “international relevance”, Lim Guan Eng said today, pointing to the latest lock-up death involving a Japanese detainee - the fourth in two weeks.

The DAP secretary-general said the prevalence of such deaths, regardless whether they were not at the hands of the police, has tarnished Malaysia’s international reputation and smeared the image of the police force.

“How many more must die before the tragedy of custodial deaths are stopped?” Lim said in a statement here.

“Only the establishment of the IPCMC can prevent needless custodial deaths and it would be very sad that a Japanese detainee must die in police custody before moving the BN federal government to act,” he added.

The Penang Chief Minister added that the public would continue to stay suspicious at the police and their interrogation methods unless they are not only assured to be clean but are also “seen to be clean”.

In the latest tragedy behind bars, Nobuhiro Matsushita, 33, was found dead at 4am yesterday in his cell at the USJ8 police station lock-up.

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Guan Eng should apologise to me, says Zahid - My statement in Utusan not racist, just practical

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng should apologise to him for misinterpreting his call for groups that do not accept the country's electoral system to move to countries where the system suits them.

"He has misinterpreted my statement," he told reporters after meeting Home Ministry's heads of departments and agencies here on Monday.

Dr Zahid also said he would not retract his statement.

Lim who is Penang Chief Minster had asked Dr Zahid to apologise to the people over the call and retract it before the parliament sitting.


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Guan Eng wants Zahid to retract statement

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wants Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to retract his statement and issue a public apology.

"If he does not do so, then a censure motion will be made in the Parliament, under the proposal of DAP parliamentarian head Lim Kit Siang.

"Dr Ahmad Zahid has until the Parliament sitting to retract his statement and apologise to the people," he told a press conference at Jalan Air Itam, Penang on Saturday.

On Friday Zahid clarified that his statement was taken out of context by certain irresponsible parties.

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Penangites throng Esplanade for thanksgiving rally

The large crowd listening to one of the speakers at the rally at the Esplanade.

The state government's rally to thank voters drew a large crowd of Pakatan Rakyat supporters at the Esplanade in Padang Kota lama here on Saturday.

The supporters, mostly clad in black attire, had arrived as early as 6.30pm to hear the speakers, among them, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

The rally, with the theme One Person, One Vote, Same Democracy,' was held to thank the voters in Penang for their support in the May 5 general election.

In his speech, Kit Siang announced the "Malaysian 3 Movement" to be launched in Gelang Patah on Sunday. "The movement is to achieve the dream to unite all Malaysians," he said.

Earlier, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh s

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Pakatan retains Penang

Guan Eng set to be sworn in as chief minister for second term

The Pakatan Rakyat coalition tightened its grip on Penang with more than two-thirds majority after winning 30 state seats to form the state government for another term.

Pakatan also had an increase of one seat from the 29 it won in the 2008 general election after wresting Seberang Jaya from Barisan Nasional.

DAP charted a convincing take-all in the 19 state seats it contested while its allies, PKR won 10, and Pas one in the 40-seat state legislative assembly. Pakatan won 10 out of 13 parliamentary seats in the state, of which DAP won seven and Pas, three.

BN won three parliamentary seats after retaining Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas, and wresting Balik Pulau from PKR.



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GE13 Picture Gallery

A young supporter putting down her signature as a show of support for Pakatan Rakyat during the grand rally in Esplanade, Penang.


Supporters cheering at the Pakatan Rakyat grand rally at the Esplanade in Penang, May 3, 2013


An aerial view of the crowd at the Pakatan Rakyat grand rally at the Esplanade in Penang May 3, 2013.


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GE13: Guan Eng's wife Betty, other DAP leaders, shave heads to protest money politics

Guan Eng showing support to his wife Betty Chew who had her head shaved in protest against money politics.



Some 100 people, including Betty Chew, the wife of DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng, gathered at the Kuan Yin pavilion at Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam here on Friday to shave their heads in protest against money politics.

The group included DAP leaders and candidates, along with supporters.

Among the DAP candidates to have their heads shaved were Phee Boon Poh, Wong Hon Wai, Jagdeep Singh Deo, Teh Yee Cheu and Yap Soo Huey.

The former assemblymen to shave their heads were Koid Teng Guan and Datuk Wong Hang Yoke.

Lim was present to show his support but did not have his head shaved.

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Malaysia In Perak, Pakatan sees victory in increased rural Chinese support

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident of taking Perak this May 5 with increased support from Chinese voters in the rural Malay-majority seats as they have now warmed to voting in a non-Chinese to represent them.

The Chinese form the minority in many of these rural seats where PR parties, particularly Islamist PAS, had lost by small margins in Election 2008.

But Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming said that with PAS, the DAP and PKR now campaigning as one under the PR umbrella, the rural Chinese community has grown more comfortable voting for Muslim candidates from PAS or PKR.

“In our latest independent survey, we are quite optimistic. We have strong seats now... between 35 and 38. The best is 40,” he told when met on the campaign trail in Trong, near Taiping, on Friday.

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DAP’s rocket GROUNDED?

Party members outraged over possiblility of using symbols of Pakatan allies

IN a stunning misstep, DAP announced yesterday that its candidates will contest the May 5 general election on Pas tickets, sparking outrage among supporters of the two ideologically divergent parties.

Later in the day, DAP added a qualifier — its 53 parliamentary and 103 state seat candidates will present to the returning officers at the nomination centres this morning a letter of authorisation signed by secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng.

“In the event we cannot use our symbol, then show them the letter of authorisation signed by Pas secretary- general Mustafa Ali,” Lim told a press conference in Penang. Political analysts say DAP’s unprecedented gambit, ostensibly to seek public sympathy, could backfire as the mainly Chinese DAP may have unwittingly played into Pas’ hands.

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GE13: DAP members will have authorisations signed by PAS or PKR

The man in Penang: Guan Eng stressing a point at Wisma DAP in Rangoon Road.

: DAP candidates nationwide will head to nomination centres carrying two sets of authorisation letters one from the DAP and another signed either by PAS or PKR.

The DAP decided on this after the Registrar of Societies (ROS) did not withdraw its non-recognition of the central executive committee notice by yesterday's 3pm deadline set by the party.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said if the DAP symbol was not accepted at the nomination centres, then its candidates were likely to contest using the PAS symbol in the peninsula and PKR's in Sabah and Sarawak.

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Furnish RM6.3b project details, Penang govt told

Penang BN information chief H’ng Khoon Leng said at a press conference in Georgetown that people can only make wise decisions if the caretaker Penang state government provided details and informed exactly how much each of the proposed tunnel and three highways would cost.


THE Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth has challenged the caretaker state government again to provide all the details of its proposed RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and highway projects here.

The coalition, which is asking Penang voters to choose between the BN’s free port vision and the Pakatan Rakyat’s proposed under sea tunnel project, said it was the right of the people to know the de tails.

State BN information chief H’ng Khoon Leng said the people could only make wise decisions if the care taker state government provided de tails and informed them exactly how much each of the proposed tunnel and three highways would cost.

“We are asking for the exact cost of each project. After we criticised the Tanjung Bungah—Teluk Bahang paired road for being too expensive, the cost of the project went down from RM58 million to RM37.8 mil lion.

Apologise to Muslims in the country, Guan Eng told

FIFTY Pas members and supporters gathered at the Gurun mosque here yesterday urging DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to apologise to Muslims in the country for proposing the word "Allah" to be used in the Malay version of the Bible.

The group also wanted to know Pakatan Rakyat presidential council's stand on the issue.

A member of the group, Mohamad Khalid Abd Hamid, said: "As far as we are concerned, DAP has rejected Islamic principles a long time ago.

"I remember how DAP chairman Karpal Singh had made a big fuss over Pas' intention to implement hudud if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya."

Khalid, 34, who had been the Youth chief of the Pas Pengkalan Bujang branch for 12 years, later announced he was quitting the party as he was frustrated with Pakatan's inconsistent stand on the use of the word "Allah".