GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMPP) has accused the state government of lying about the statistics involving Malay traders who faced enforcement action by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).

Chamber president Rizal Faris Mohideen said the DPMPP had the actual statistics for 2009, which showed action against Malay hawkers and traders had increased under the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government.

Speaking at a demonstration organised by Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) and several other Malay and Muslim based NGOs, Rizal challenged the statistics issued by the state government.

"As the state government, they can claim anything and lie as they are desperate to cover up their action. I have statistics from MPPP which show otherwise. Unless the state government has plagiarised the statistics to cover their tracks," Rizal said.

A police permit had been issued for the gathering outside a mosque which later moved to a carpark on police advice.

Initially about 100 people, carrying banners criticising Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng were present at the demonstration.

Rizal who served as an MPPP councillor in 2008 said he had raised the matter numerous times but was accused of being a racist by Lim.

"No doubt the situation also existed under the Barisan Nasional but that's why we voted for change but nothing has changed. I had even proposed an action plan or an integrated approach to deal with the situation as Penang is a tourist destination and food haven, which could be affected by the enforcement taken against these hawkers.

"Two years after taking over the state government, we have not seen any improvement as promised, but Malays continue to be sidelined and victimised," he added.

He said the equity distribution for Malays in George Town was a pittance compared to other races.

Banners warned Lim not to test the patience of Muslims and Malays in Penang, who were the rightful owners of the land.

At one point, police told the protesters to stop when a few speakers became emotional and uttered provocative statements.

They broke up for Friday prayers and later the crowd swelled to about 300 people who marched to Komtar, located about 300m away, demanding to see Lim.

Five trucks with Light Strike Force personnel were called in while police cordoned off Lebuh Teik Soon near Komtar. The group refused to hand over the memorandum to a representative from Lim's office and later set alight an effigy of Lim before dispersing.