GEORGE TOWN: Despite Gerakan Youth's presence alongside other Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth at Monday's demonstration outside the Penang legislative assembly building, Gerakan Penang has come out strongly against the act of a protester who burned a portrait of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Gerakan Tanjung Youth head H'ng Khoon Leng was among those who were present with the other BN youth from UMNO, MCA, MIC and PPP.

Gerakan Penang Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Gerakan is against the "culture of unruly or uncivilised political culture", including burning effigies of politicians or stamping on posters bearing their faces.

"I regret that such culture had taken place and I hope it would not be repeated.

"Any unhappiness or dissatisfaction should be thrashed out through proper channels in a peaceful way. There is no need to use extreme methods to show your displeasure to the whole world," he said in a statement.

Teng was commenting on the two recent incidents namely the one in Perak on Sunday when DAP members stamped on a big poster bearing the faces of former DAP state assemblyman Hee Yit Foong and state assemblymen Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, previously with Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

The trio had since left Pakatan Rakyat and are now BN-friendly.

The second incident took place Monday, outside the Penang state legislative assembly building, where a protester burned the portrait of Lim.

Teng said Gerakan viewed this seriously and had instructed its members to avoid getting involved in such unhealthy political culture.

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