GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan Youth has lambasted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for the actions of DAP members in Ipoh who had stepped on a big poster bearing the faces of the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) defectors who became Barisan Nasional (BN) friendly independents.

In a statement today, Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said he was disappointed that Lim had “stooped so low” in treating his former comrades and friends.

He said Lim had inculcated an unprecedented “rough and cheap political culture” when his DAP colleagues stepped on a big poster bearing the faces of the trio.

"Although Lim leapt across the doorway into the hall so as not step on the faces of former party comrade Hee Yit Foong and that of Mohd Osman Jailu and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, previously with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), he added salt into the wound.

"Lim said they were 'too dirty for me to even step on' during his opening speech at the Perak DAP convention," Oh added. He said it was highly improper for Lim to allow DAP members to engage in such a “dastardly act”.

“In politics, it is not unusual to see friends becoming foes due to differences of opinions, views or circumstances. We can scold each other when we disagree but the important thing is we should not resort to such “uncivilised” political act,” said Oh.

Oh urged Lim to concentrate on administering Penang, instead of indulging in cheap publicity stunts.

He said though the trio’s move to leave PR created controversy, they should not be subjected to such acts.

“What the DAP members did was childish and should not be condoned by anyone, especially by their secretary-general who is also the chief minister of Penang," Oh added.