Guan Eng under fire for parking in clamping zone

GEORGE TOWN: Critics of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng are having a field day slamming him on Facebook after his official car was seen illegally parked by the roadside in a clamping zone on Lebuh Campbell.

Photographs of the Mercedes Benz with the registration PG1 was uploaded and shared on the popular social network site today by some Barisan Nasional politicians and cyber-troopers.

 Facebook user Tan Khai Beng, who uploaded the photo, claimed that Lim was at Lebuh Campbell to meet Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack in the afternoon.

He took a dig at Lim, posting a remark that the man both made and broke the law. Several users 'liked' his posting and also posted comments making fun of Lim.

One by the name of Gloria Tan said Lim could do that because he was a 'tokong' (deity). Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan commented: "He is the Tokong. Nobody can touch him. You talk some more he will sue you. Summons are for ordinary layman, not him lah."

Another simply commented: "Penang belongs to the owner of the car." Several others also posted comments urging the police to slap Lim with traffic offence summonses. However, there were other Facebook users who defended the DAP leader on the predominantly-Chinese page called 'Big News in Penang' and slammed those who posted unkind comments about Lim.

Many took a swipe at the person who uploaded the photo, using vulgar words while some posted pictures of lewd hand gestures. Writing in Chinese, the netizens slammed the disparaging remarks against Lim, with one saying that the DAP secretary-general was above the law and had the absolute power to do whatever he wanted.

 The page also had few comments who felt that Lim should not have left his car parked by the road and that the local council enforcement officer on duty should have clamped the vehicle.

 The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) introduced clamping zones in several locations around George Town to discourage illegal parking and prevent traffic obstruction.  The policy has been implemented actively since June 2011 under the Pakatan Rakyat administration.