thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN (Nov 2, 2010): The state assembly was marred by a rowdy protest today that saw its gate violently shaken by the protesters.
The state government accused instigators of staging the incident to distract attention from the budget being tabled in the assembly.
About 100 people had gathered outside the assembly building by 10.30am, complaining of price increases, loss of trading opportunities, and of being victims of land seizures.
The protest ended more than an hour later when four men, who claimed to represent residents of Kampung Genting in Balik Pulau affected by land acquisition for an education hub, were allowed in to hand over a memorandum to Ng Wei Aik, the political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
State Umno youth chief Norman Zahalan also turned up with a plastic bag full of cash which, he said, amounted to RM23,700 returned by elderly citizens who had collected money under the state government's Senior Citizens Appreciation Scheme.
He insisted that Lim or state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim personally come out and take the money.
Norman claimed the scheme had used donations from the Penang Turf Club, which were "haram".
Assembly officials told him the state government had clarified that money from the Turf Club was kept in a different account and not channelled to Muslims.
Rezal Huzairi, a special assistant to Deputy Chief Minister (I) Mansor Othman, and Satees Muniandy, assistant to Deputy Chief Minister (II) Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, explained that the government could not collect the money without proper documentation and a name list of those had returned the cash.
Norman said he did not have a name list as the senior citizens had come to his Umno centre and left their money in a box provided.
Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Husin expressed regret over the manner the protest was held. He said he had written to Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Ayub Yaakob to ensure security is provided when the assembly reconvenes on Monday, after the Deepavali break, and at all times in the future.
"This is not the first time that we have had such a protest," he said, referring to a demonstration outside the state assembly in May. On Nov 30 last year, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's picture was burned in another demonstration outside the assembly.
"We are worried that if help from the police does not come in time, the fencing can collapse and people force their way into the assembly.
"If the protest is peaceful, that's fine. If they have any discontentment, they can always channel them through their assemblymen."
Lim said the protest was timed to divert attention from the budget he was tabling in the assembly.
"This budget is tailored to dignify the rakyat with sustainable development measure, so they tried to sabotage it by disturbing the assembly while it was being tabled," he said.
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