Penang council to act on Perkasa's open burning

The Penang Island Municipal Council is going after right wing Malay group Perkasa for open burning and dirtying several streets during its May 10 protest against the state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

MPPP councillor Ong Ah Teong said four roads - Jalan Pinhorn, Jalan Sungai, Jalan Dato Keramat and Jalan Ria - have been identified to have been littered by Perkasa members who threw anti-Guan Eng posters around on that day.

Before that, the group held a Hindu "funeral rite" for Lim outside his personal residence on Jalan Pinhorn to symbolise his death for allegedly ignoring the plight of the Malay community.

Ong said the NGO faces a compound amounting to RM250 for each littered street under the council's by-law on streets, drainage and buildings.

The council would also lodge a report with the Department of Environment (DOE) on the open burning by Perkasa at Komtar last Friday. 

A danger to public safety

During the protest, which was directed at the Bersih movement, the group set fire to several of the election watchdog's signature yellow T-shirts, saying it was a request by a participant who was unhappy with the April 28 rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

Ong (second from left) proposed that the DOE applies Section 29 (a) of the Environment Quality Act to make Perkasa accountable for its actions, which he described as "not only damaging to the environment but also a danger to public safety".

If guilty, those charged with open burning can face a fine up to RM500,000 or a jail term not exceeding five years. 

"If the relevant authorities take the necessary and appropriate actions, such rude and dangerous behaviour will not be repeated," Ong told a press conference today.

"Despite several similar acts by the same group, we are surprised that the authorities - DOE, Fire Department and police - have yet to take any action," he added.

‘Inaction encourages violence'

Ong, who is also personal assistant to Dato Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo, said inaction would encourage more "violent" behaviour on the part of Perkasa, which is the most vocal group voicing dissatisfaction against Lim's leadership in Penang.

He cited an example yesterday, where a member of Perkasaharassed a participant who attended the one-month anniversary of the Bersih 3.0 rally that was held at the Esplanade, which resulted in two arrests. 

"With the police yet to take action on their previous misbehaviour during the anti-Lynas rally where two journalists were hurt, Perkasa will continue to harass the people because it is not held accountable for such actions," Ong added.

Ong, who was accompanied by several other municipal councillors, also handed over photographs of Perkasa's open burning act as "evidence" for the DOE and the other relevant authorities to take action.