DAP warned against using legal system to threaten media and political parties

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has been warned against using the legal system to threaten not only the media but also political parties when it finds itself in a bind.
Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng (pix) said when DAP leaders can no longer answer questions or are caught out, they have the habit of using legal avenues to intimidate or silence the press or their opponents.
"I would like to send this message to DAP leaders that it is not only DAP which has lawyers. Gerakan also has an abundance of leaders and members who are lawyers too.
"Gerakan will also offer its panel of lawyers to assist any media organisation which has been a victim of legal intimidation by DAP," said Liang in a press conference at his party headquarters here today.
He said choosing the legal avenue to prevent the media from publishing a story is not healthy.
He said this problem involving him and a media organisation started when he publicly posed 12 questions to the state-funded Penang Institute on the island's economic situation and its budget surplus since 2008.
Liang said he had listed examples of sales of the state's assets, including land and shares amounting to several billion ringgit and if taken into account in January this year it would account for the surplus.
"Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng replied via an official statement and called me 'not smart', 'not able to understand accounts' and not being able to understand the Auditor-Generals' report on Penang," Liang said.
Liang said he pointed out that the AG's report clearly stated that the budget surplus over the years was only because of the sale of state land and assets.
He said Lim did not reply but more than a month later he sent a letter demand to a newspaper as first and second respondent asking them to withdraw the press conference report declaring it to be inflammatory.
He added that he was named as the third respondent in the legal letter and he (Liang) in return issued a letter of demand to Lim.
He warned DAP leaders, Lim included, that this kind of action will not be tolerated and it will be challenged by Gerakan and the party will also help the media to fight off the legal action.