Gerakan shows support for DAP

Technology misused by certain quarters to launch personal attacks on Lim Guan Eng's son, says Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong.

GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan has leapt to the defence of its political rival DAP over the issue of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s 16-year-old son been allegedly implicated in molesting a student.

The alleged incident which was reported online is turning out to be a fake accusation.

In a statement, Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong urged netizens and bloggers to refrain from attacking Lim’s underage son in the blogsphere, saying that such a move should not be tolerated.

The online story has been the talking point of the public, causing an uproar among politicians from both sides of the divide.

“Gerakan sympathises with… this young man,” Mah said.

He said that technology was misused by certain quarters to launch personal attacks and to undermine reputation, which is “irresponsible and unacceptable”.
Mah, a lawyer by training, also notes that Barisan Nasional political leaders as well as their families have also been the target of Internet attacks and smear campaign in the past.

This is also unfair and regretful, he said.

“Gerakan appeals to the leaders of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to close ranks to stop the irresponsible and immoral act of launching personal attacks and smear campaign through the Internet. We should stop gutter politics.”

Mah also urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to step in and investigate the case.

The incident went viral on the Internet last Sunday when a few bloggers posted an allegation that Lim’s third eldest child had allegedly molested or groped a fellow female student at a school.

As a result, it was speculated that the young boy was transferred to a missionary school and that the victim’s family was allegedly paid off to keep quiet.

Unethical beyond words

Lim initially waited to see if the mainstream media would print such allegations, indicating that he would file libel suits against media organisations linked to Umno.

Then 24 hours later, Lim issued a statement hitting out at those who have allegedly victimised his son, urging his political deractors to attack him, but spare his son from such spurious attacks.

Eventually, the school principal denied the allegations. Shortly, the “victim”, a 21-year-old former world chess champion identified as Anya Corke, who was tracked down, also said she had never met Lim’s son.

Meanwhile, the bloggers who posted the allegations remained quiet although the issue went viral for at least 72 hours, helped by the growing sharp exchanges among several politicians on the social media networking sites.

Gerakan Wanita secretary-general Jayanthi Balaguru also issued a statement, condemning the the bloggers for making such allegations against Lim’s son.

“Politics is not really dirty; it can become gutter politics, though, when irresponsible politicians are not discreet,” she said.

“Such an action is a disgrace of the highest degree and unethical beyond words. It is disheartening to see that politics in the country has dropped to such low levels that even the family members of politicians are baselessly attacked,” said Jayanthi.

Jayanthi urged MCMC to investigate and take the action against these perpetrators to deter politicians and bloggers from such resorting to demeaning action.