BN condemns attack on Youth chief’s car

We won't be cowed by these uncivilised acts, says state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional has condemned the attack on its state Youth chairman Oh Tong Keong’s car as an irresponsible and uncivilised act.

Describing it as a political motivated, state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the culture of vandalism and verbal abuses started to rear its ugly head only after the last general election.

He said that these acts were done to intimidate local BN leaders, especially critics who dared to expose Pakatan Rakyat state government’s many wrongdoings and mismanagement.

A defiant Teng said that BN leaders would not be cowed by such intimidations and would continue to check and balance the Pakatan government without fear.

He said such political culture did not exist when BN was ruling Penang pre-2008, adding that there was peace, diplomacy and decency then.

“Such incidences and verbal abuses were never heard of before 2008,” Teng said today.

When asked if he was pointing fingers at any political party, he said he was only suggesting that it was the work of BN’s political rivals.

“We have talked to Oh and found that the acttack had nothing to do with his personal work. It’s politically motivated,” he told newsmen at the state BN headquarters.

Oh’s car was splashed with red paint and both windscreens smashed yesterday.

The incident occurred when Oh went to a clubhouse in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah to meet some friends at 2.50pm.

Oh, who had lodged a police report at the Jalan Patani police station, said he was told that two individuals on a motorcycle threw paint on his car and smashed the windscreens.

Politics of fear

Teng said the state BN would sponsor Oh’s repair bill, estimated to be RM10,000.

The incident followed last month’s incident where a Gerakan service centre in Pulau Tikus was splashed with coffee and eggs.

Prior to the incident, the Penang DAP headquarters and six service centres of party assemblymen, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, were splashed with red paint.

The attack was preceded by another incident where a BN war truck – a mobile ceramah platform – parked at the state Gerakan headquarters, was also splashed with red paint.

Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan secretary Goh Kheng Sneah also condemned the attack of on Oh’s car as an act of “cowardice and shame.”

“We regret that such an incident had taken place. In a parliamentary democracy like Malaysia, everyone is entitled to his political beliefs and to support any political party.

“But please do not resort to using such desperate measure,” Goh said in a statement.

Goh, who is also Barisan Nasional Batu Uban coordinator, also lamented the “politics of inculcating fear” against rivals.

Goh said Oh had been vocal in highlighting issues and problems affecting Penangites, including the sale of Taman Manggis state land.

“Political rivals can have differences, arguments and quarrels until the cows come home. But we must be civil and show respect to our detractors,” he added.