Lim: BN’s smear campaign on Zaid could secure ‘immoral’ win
Written by Regina William, The Edge
The Barisan Nasional’s (BN) current smear campaign against Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Hulu Selangor by-election candidate Datuk Zaid Ibrahim on his alcohol consumption could secure BN’s victory on Sunday, April 25.
However, DAP Secretay-General Lim Guan Eng said the victory would be “immoral” as the BN had embarked on personal attacks on Zaid, including unearthing his drinking habits which were during his younger days, which Zaid himself had admitted.
“Maybe the BN feels that they need to use this issue to ensure it wins the by-election or their studies show they would win by exploiting this.
“Zaid was honest to admit to this and has already repented his actions and this is surely better than others who refuse or would not repent.
“He has also said he would not stoop to such low levels as to expose others in Umno or Cabinet ministers who also consumed alcohol.
“If you want to cast the first stone, make sure you haven’t sinned,” said Lim, referring to the bible verse “ye who are without sin cast the first stone” during a press conference.
He added the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) campaign would not exploit personal or moral issues of the BN candidate but would focus on issues like corruption and people-related matters.
Lim also questioned why Zaid’s previous alcohol consumption had not been an issue when he was in the BN and was also the MP for Kota Bahru.
“Why was it not a problem when he was an Umno minister in the Cabinet?
“Now that he is in the PR, even his actions, which was in his past is being resurrected.
“I am truly disappointed and disgusted with the BN’s ‘immoral’ campaigning to secure victory,” Lim added.
Meanwhile, at the same press conference Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman said the PKR Bayan Baru division permanent chairman Ismail Mohd Ali would be referred to the party’s disciplinary committee for openly supporting former Bayan Baru PKR MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim at a recent function.
Ismail on Sunday also had announced that some 200 PKR Bayan Baru division members had quit, citing loss of confidence in the party.
Mansor challenged Ismail to provide the list of names of those he alleged had quit the party.
It is learnt that a motley group of people, who were present at Ismail’s press conference to announce their resignation, held at Zahrain’s service centre in Bayan Baru, were not even PKR party members.
The dozen or so people, when approached by reporters after the press conference, had claimed they had been “asked” to gather at the service centre, but almost all denied being PKR members.
