(From left) Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political-secetary cum Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, Bukit Bendera Dapsy chief Hohd Hariszuan, Batu Uban assemblyman Dr. T. Jayabalan and Pulau Tikus assembly member Yap Soo Huey leaving Penang Northeast Police headquarters after lodging a police report on an allegation by Penang Umno youth that Gurney Drive will be renamed Chin Peng drive. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 4, 2014.Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary today lodged a police report against state Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim over his claim that the state may change the name of Gurney Drive to Chin Peng Drive.
Wong Hon Wai, who made the report on behalf of the state government at the George Town district police headquarters, said Rafizal should be investigated for allegedly spreading the rumour that the state was proposing to change the iconic road's name effective January 1.
He also asked the police to trace the Whatsapp message, which supposedly contained the claim, that Rafizal had reportedly alluded to when he raised the matter at a press conference on Tuesday.
"An investigation needs to be made because according to Rafizal he got the information through Whatsapp," Wong said in the police report.
He cited a news report in Malay language daily, Berita Harian, which quoted Rafizal on the issue.
"This (name change) clearly does not have any basis and is not true and the statement violates section 505(c) of the Penal Code," Wong said.
The clause makes an offence of the making, publishing or circulating of any statement, rumour
or report "with intent to incite or which is likely to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community of persons".
Wong was accompanied by PKR's Batu Uban assembly member Dr T. Jayabalan, DAP's Pulau Tikus assembly member Yap Soo Huey, PAS Bukit Gelugor information chief Mohamed Farook Ismail and DAP Bukit Bendera Youth chief Mohd Hariszuan Jaharudin.
Rafizal had said at a press conference on Tuesday that Umno Youth had heard about the possible name change from the office of the chief minister. He, however, refused to identity the alleged source.
Chin Peng, the long-time leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), died in Bangkok in September last year. He was refused entry to Malaysia although a peace agreement had been signed between the CPM and the Malaysian government on December 2, 1989.
Rafizal's press conference coincided with the 25th anniversary of the peace treaty signed between the CPM and the governments of Malaysia and Thailand to end the communist insurgency.
Lim yesterday accused Umno Youth of “inventing stories and telling lies” to divert attention from the problems the party was facing.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said on Sunday that Putrajaya would never allow Chin Peng’s ashes to be brought back, as it was sensitive to the feelings of families of those killed or maimed by the CPM. – December 4, 2014.
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