Rais accused of playing race card

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says that Rais Yatim is making false accusations and trying to imply that the state practices racism.

PETALING JAYA: Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is playing the race card and trying to paint the Penang state government as racist.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says Rais latest salvo against the state shows that he is resorting to lies.

“He should speak the truth instead of lying like Utusan Malaysia. He must have proof of which state government function that I did not speak in Bahasa Malaysia,” said Lim in a press statement.

Yesterday Rais alleged that he was the only one who spoke in Bahasa and a little bit of English at an official government function in Penang.

Disputing Rais’ version of events, Lim sais the minister must have an agenda for claiming he was the only one who spoke in Bahasa.

“I had also spoken in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin. Why did Rais not mention that I also spoke in Bahasa Malaysia?”

Lim also denied that the function was organised by the state government.

“I would like to remind Rais that Han Chiang College is a privately run college and the function was organised by Han Chiang and not by the state government,” said Lim who is also Bagan MP and Air Puteh state assemblyman.

Lim claimed that Rais’ accusations against the state government on the usage of the national language was an attempt to picture the state government as racist.

“Making false allegations against the Penang state government is clearly intended to play the racist sentiment that Penang does not appreciate Bahasa Malaysia and this is not good for national unity.

Rais should apologise

He added that the onus is now on Rais to prove his claims.

“However if he fails to show proof, then he should withdraw his remarks and apologise.

“Otherwise he would be exposed as a man without honour and even a racist for trying to use this lie to work up the sentiments of the Malays.

Lim also commented on Rais’ attacks against him as a result of New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia reports that he (Lim) may have leaked out national secrets at a dinner in Singapore.

The reports had questioned Lim’s loyalty towards Malaysia.

“I cannot understand why my loyalty to Malaysia is questioned by the NST news report when I do not possess any Australian PR even though I graduated from Monash University.

“Shouldn’t BN leaders who had Australian PR have their loyalty questioned by the NST newspaper ?” asked Lim.