Hishamudin Tun Hussein Onn’s Refusal To Guarantee Security For PR As Akin To A Refusal To Warn Those Resorting To Criminal Acts Of Violence Against The Personal Safety And Property Of Pakatan Rakyat Leaders And Members.

DAP is shocked by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamudin Tun Hussein Onn’s refusal to guarantee security for PR in the Home Ministry’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House at Putrajaya yesterday. Such refusal by the Home Minister is akin to a refusal to warn of stern action against those resorting to criminal acts of violence against the personal safety and property of PR leaders and members. Is Hishamudin providing not only just legal immunity from prosecution but also sanctioning such wrongful acts?

By refusing to either guarantee PR leaders’ security, Hishamuddin is sending a wrong message against those involved in violent attacks on the PKR’s nationwide Merdeka Rakyat bus tour. Will we see more of such violent attacks not just against PKR but also PR? This question of public security is critical following the systematic and organised attacks against DAP in Penang yesterday where the DAP Penang headquarters and 3 DAP State Assemblymen service centers, Datuk Keramat ADUN Jagdeep Singh, Pulau Tikus ADUN Koay Teng Hai and mine, were attacked with red paint.

This is the first time in Malaysian history that a Chief Minister’s service center has been attacked, a dangerous escalation of the political culture of hatred and violence against PR and DAP leaders. The latest attacks are clearly part of a systematic and organised effort to threaten, subvert and undermine the PR Penang state government as this is the 3rd such attack in 13 months.

On Aug 14, 2011, the DAP Penang headquarters and the service center of Komtar ADUN Ng Wei Aik was splashed with orange and red paint. 4 days later there was an attempt to burn the DAP Penang headquarters’ building. To date the culprits involved were neither apprehended nor identified by the police.

I do not know whether there will be more of such attacks against the DAP in Penang. However, DAP will not be intimidated by such acts of violence but will continue with the mandate given by the people in Penang to implement people-centric policies and a clean government. I urge our members and supporters to remain calm in the face of such provocations and remain steadfast with democratic culture of non-violence. PR and DAP will ultimately prevail and win by rejecting the politics of hate, lies and violence.

Hishamudin should immediately restore some of his personal credibility and uphold the rule of law by withdrawing such irresponsible remarks and issue a directive to the police to take stern action behind the perpetrators of such illegal and criminal acts of violence against PR to prove that there are no double standards nor selective prosecution.

LIM GUAN ENG

mannsgor.