KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has instructed his staff to make video and audio recordings of all public functions he attends as part of measures to protect himself amid a slew of relentless attacks by political rivals.
The Umno machinery has dogged the DAP secretary-general’s every move of late — from accusations that he discredited the state of Johor during a private luncheon talk to unfounded allegations thus far by pro-Umno bloggers that his 16-year-old son had sexually harassed a female classmate.
The DAP leader said that he now makes sure that any event attended by Lim away from Penang, which is not organised by the state government or his party, is recorded.
“It’s good practice ... Before this, we never really bothered with full recordings outside of out-of-state functions with organisations, but after what has happened I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Zairil said.
The Penang CM was forced on September 30 to apologise for offending the Sultan of Johor.
Lim has insisted, however, that his statements were misrepresented by what he called the Barisan Nasional-controlled media.
He was accused of saying during a luncheon talk with the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore on August 12 that Singaporeans would likely get “kidnapped” in Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said in an interview with the New Straits Times later that he was offended by Lim’s remarks but did not “want to react, because as a Ruler, I shouldn’t be dragged into politics.”
But the Bagan MP said, “I feel that what I had said has been misrepresented by the BN-controlled media. I will pursue this matter in court to determine the truth.”
He pointed out that to date, except for a “purported tape by TV3,” there has been no press report of what he had said “privately in a closed-door session.”
Lim also said he has instructed his lawyers to immediately sue the BN-controlled press beginning with state news agency Bernama.
Pro-Umno blogs have recently alleged the Penang chief minister’s son sexually assaulted a classmate and tried to escape punishment by using his father’s name.
Lim denied the allegations two days ago, saying he was furious with the “barbaric lies” made about his teenage son by “pro-Umno ferocious beasts.”
His colleagues in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have come out strongly in support of the DAP secretary general against what they call “the lowest gutter politics” seen in decades.
The principal of SMK Heng Ee in George Town also moved yesterday to put an end to the accusations, calling them “completely untrue.”
Umno lawmakers were quick to distance themselves from the allegations as public anger grows over the claims, saying it had nothing to do with their party.
When asked whether Lim himself now personally records private conversations with the people he meets on a daily basis, Zairil responded by saying, “I’m not too sure.”
“Whether he does so or not, I’m not too sure, but I would not be surprised if he did. He’s been unfairly attacked left, right and centre.”
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