PETALING JAYA: Come after me as much as you want but leave my family alone, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told his “political enemies” today.
In a strongly worded statement, he asked why the shocking arrest of his wife Betty Chew was the latest challenge his family has to endure.
“My family has suffered from my involvement in politics when I was in opposition from 1986-2008,” Lim said. “From having to visit me when I was detained under Internal Security Act in 1987 or imprisoned in Kajang in 1998 for defending an underaged Malay rape victim, they had to undergo deprivation and pressures not experienced by other families.”
Unfortunately, my family continued to suffer even when I was elected as Penang Chief Minister in 2008, the former finance minister said.
“In 2011, my 15-year-old son was viciously attacked by Umno Youth leader Papagomo, or Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris. Wan accused my son of sexually molesting his female classmate in his school in Penang.
“At such a tender age facing the lies and accusations of the entire BN media machinery, he suffered and I felt helpless for being unable to protect him as a father.
“Even though the ‘alleged victim’, school principal and the Penang Education Department denied such an incident took place, no action was taken by the police against Papagomo for spreading such despicable lies.”
Lim said in early March this year, Papagomo again spread false news that his son was arrested in the Singapore International Airport for trying to smuggle in RM2 million cash and that he flew in to Singapore to secure his release.
“The Inspector-General of Police said no such arrest was made in Singapore and I had not left for Singapore during that period,” Lim said.
“In a written parliamentary to me last week, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said the Royal Malaysia Police had opened an investigation paper into the matter under Section 505 of the Penal Code distributing statements that cause public mischief and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for misusing network facilities.
“The investigation has been completed and was forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on May 13, 2020. To date no charges has been filed by AGC against Papagomo for the last three months.
“In contrast, my wife will be charged for money laundering on Aug 11, only four days after recording her statement and arresting her on Aug 7. She does not understand why she is charged for money laundering when, as a lawyer, her income is derived from her legal fees,” he added.
Lim said he had felt helpless in failing to protect his children. Now I feel equally helpless in failing to protect my wife, he added.
