BN: Lim fishing for Christian votes
Penang CM playing up ‘Allah’ issue for selfish political gains, claim state BN leaders.
Athi Shankar, FMT
A group of Barisan Nasional local leaders today accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of invoking the ‘Allah’ issue merely to fish for Christian votes.
Acting as the group’s spokesman, MCA’s Bayan Baru division secretary David Yim Boon Leong said BN was dismayed by Lim’s playing up the issue for selfish political gain.
Yim accused Lim, the DAP secretary general, of misusing a religious occasion by raising the Allah issue in his Christmas message.
He condemned Lim as a political opportunist who would stir religious sentiments with total disregard for religious and racial harmony.
Lim has come under fire from various Muslim-based NGOs for urging the government to allow the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Malay version of the Bible.
The NGOs held several demonstrations across the country, especially in Penang, to vent their frustration and anger against Lim, who some chided as “extremist, racist and arrogant.”
Yim said Lim’s suggestion would cause tension between Muslims and Christians, who have been living together peacefully these years.
He alleged that Lim raised the Allah issue merely to divert public attention from the Kelantan land deal controversy involving Pakatan Rakyat allies, DAP and PAS.
Lim playing with fire
He called on Lim to focus on improving Penang’s foreign direct investment statistics rather playing up religious sentiments.
“Lim thought he would get support from Christians with his statement. But he did not expect Pakatan allies, PAS and PKR, would make a U-turn and attack him on it,” said Yim.
Yim also hit out at Lim for saying that Malaysia was not on par with neighbours Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia in economic achievements and skillful human resources.
