Talking to empty chairs - amused Guan Eng says event hadn't even started

 

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng has laughed off a viral video showing him speaking to an almost empty hall.

The incumbent Bagan MP explained that at the time he made his speech it was around Sunday noon and the event hadn't even started yet as it was only scheduled to begin at night.

He said he was just speaking to workers and contestants taking part in a singing competition organised by Bagan DAP before it started.

"I was just giving some opening remarks to them. It was a limited crowd, and it was not for the public.

"But if you want to conflate it (with low support), then you can do another Tajuddin," an amused Lim told Malaysiakini.

This was in reference to incumbent Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman - whom Lim is threatening to sue over false allegations that the Finance Ministry became like a Chinese temple during his time as minister.

In the 25-second video being spread on WhatsApp and social media, Lim is shown speaking in Mandarin about how international stars were avoiding holding concerts in Malaysia.

The camera then pans to show the rest of the hall filled with empty chairs.

Lim said when the event started at night, that was when the crowds were in attendance. He shared a photo of him speaking to a full hall that night.

‘Votes matter, not crowd size’

He added that the Chinese press had covered the event and would have mentioned it in their reports if turnout was poor.

Lim also dismissed the obsession with crowds.

"In the end, it's not the crowd size that matters, but the votes," he said.

However, he said if his critics want to see a crowd, they should attend the launch of his election operations room in Bagan on Saturday night.

"Then we see lah," he said with a small laugh. - Mkini