GEORGE TOWN: The national opposition is sensing a snap election after Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was charged with graft and abuse of power last Thursday at the Penang High Court.
This feeling was picked up by speakers during a ceramah at the Dewan Sri Pinang today with most alluding to an early 14th General Election.
Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy started the ball rolling when he said morale was high among the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government following victories in the Sarawak state election and the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangasr by-elections.
"The people will decide in the next general election, I feel Penang will remain with Pakatan Harapan (PH)," he said as more than a thousand strong crowd cheered at the Dewan Sri Pinang today.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Rashid Hasnon also did not miss a beat when he forecast PH winning 80% of the Penang votes if the election was called.
"We won 52% of the popular vote in 2013," he noted while Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail urged PH supporters to go to the ground to win the fence sitters.
"We can talk to the converted but we need to convince the others," the PKR president said.
Parit Buntar MP and Penang Amanah chairman Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa meanwhile got the crowd roaring in agreement after noting Lim still commanded the support of the public despite facing graft accusations.
"I have seen many who have been charged with corruption and abuse of power and not one of them have been able to raise money from the public for bail," he said.
Lim himself did not discount the possibility of early national polls, saying that the people will have to decide.
"It is up to the people to answer in the next general election," he said when asked in an ad-hoc press conference after the ceramah.
Earlier in the morning, the commercial district in Lebuh Pantai here reverberated with shouts of "Lim Guan Eng" as thousands gathered for a solidarity walk with the chief minister.
Among those who walked was businesswoman Asma, 46, who said she wanted to show her support for Lim's government.
"There is no need for him to step down," she stressed when asked if Lim needed to take leave until the trial ends.
Another supporter, Khor See Beng, 55, laughed off the accusations.
"I support him as CM, I support his leadership," the voter from the Air Putih constituency, where Lim is assemblyman said.
Also among them was Harnik Kaur, 50, who was with her family of seven from Butterworth.
"We are behind him, we will not let him down," she said.
Suba Sri Sakthi Kanagavalli Temple in Tong Hurst Estate, Selama, was discovered by the temple caretaker at about noon on the same day.
The caretaker found that the wooden door leading to the main hall of the temple was open and two statues were broken.
It is learnt that the statues were of the main deities there.
Jewellery kept beneath the statues at both temples was also missing.
Kulim Deputy District Police Chief DSP Barudin Wariso said both cases would be investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for break-in and theft.
Two suspects have been detained to assist in the investigation of both cases.
Woman's foot severed after being dragged in motorcycle collision
GEORGE TOWN: A female pedestrian had her foot severed in a freak accident with a motorcycle at Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, here today.
The woman, a 44-year-old Indonesian, was crossing the busy road on foot at 1.40am, headed towards Jalan Gurdwara when she was hit by a motorcycle coming from Pengkalan Weld.
The woman became entangled with the motorcycle and was dragged for several metres. This led to the woman's foot being severed.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mior Farid Alathrash Wahid said the woman was conscious when she was taken to the Penang Hospital, along with her severed foot.
"There is a big possibility that the victim's leg cannot be re-attached because the nerves and veins had been irreparably damaged.
"The motorcyclist fled on foot from the area, leaving his motorcycle at the scene.
'We believe that the motorcyclist is seeking treatment for his injuries at a private hospital," he told reporters here today.
There was no closed-circuit television camera in the area for police to obtain the accident footage from. Police, he said, are still trying to identify the motorcyclist.
George Town folk started their day this morning with heavier than usual traffic in the city’s streets as police mounted blocks on roads leading to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) state headquarters and the courthouse complex.
According to The Star Online, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the blocks were set up to ensure a smooth journey for officials sending Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to the Sessions Court to face two corruption charges.
“We are not trying to cause trouble to the people but we have to do that for smooth court proceedings,” he was quoted saying, adding that the number of people allowed into the courthouse would also be monitored by police.
The news portal said thousands were late for work due to the bumper-to-bumper crawl along Jalan Pangkor to Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah before the MACC building and slow traffic on Lebuh Farquhar near the Penang courthouse.
The portal said the blocks affected those heading to several schools in the city such as the Convent Light School, St Xavier’s Institute and SMK Hutchings.
At the courthouse on Light Street, a massive crowd of leaders and supporters gathered since the early morning to show support for Lim.
When Lim’s counsels arrived at about 9am, the crowd swelled to more than several hundred, many milling around the compound as police stopped them from entering the already-packed courtroom.
Lim’s father and Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang arrived at about 9.45am to loud cheers from those gathered.
Shortly after, Lim was brought to the complex, earning more cheers.
The Penang chief minister is expected to be charged under Section 23 of the MACC Act and Section 165 of the Penal Code.
Section 23 of the MACC Act covers the offence of using one’s public office or position to obtain gratification for decisions made, while Section 165 of the Penal Code — which was used to convict former Selangor mentri besar Khir Toyo — pertains to the same offence.
He is expected to be charged over the rezoning approval of Magnificent Emblem’s application to convert agricultural land to residential purpose.
He is also expected to be charged over his house purchase, which was allegedly below market value.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali confirmed to Bernama yesterday that he will lead the prosecution team in Lim’s case.
Magnificent Emblem's director Phang Li Khoon, who was also arrested yesterday, is also expected to be charged today.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/tight-security-in-penang-as-guan-eng-awaits-corruption-charges#sthash.hlsjU6jR.dpuf
GEORGE TOWN (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK)- A large crowd gathered outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission building in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah where Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is held pending charges of corruption against him.
Many were seen lighting candles, others were singing songs, as the crowd came to show their support for Mr Lim.
There were also shouts of 'Bebas Guan Eng' (Free Guan Eng) and 'Tangkap Jho Lo' (Capture Jho Lo) from the crowd.
