Police Urged To Investigate Lim Guan Eng For Teaching Kids The 'ABCD-GST' Song
"ABCDGST, harga semakin tinggi."
By Jia Vern Tham — 19 Mar 2018, 01:35 PM
On 17 March, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng allegedly taught children to sing the 'ABCD-GST' song at an officiating ceremony for free tuition classes
Guan Eng seen singing and dancing along to the song during the officiating ceremony.
Image via Free Malaysia TodayFree Malaysia Today reported that the chief minister was officiating a free tuition class initiative under the youth empowerment programme Penggerak Komuniti Muda Pulau Pinang (Peka) at the Mutiara Idaman 2 flats when he was seen dancing and singing along to the song during the officiating ceremony.
According to Sin Chew Daily, Guan Eng said he got the song from the Internet and decided to share it because he found it interesting, yet easy to sing.
Lyrics of the song have been perceived to be insulting the Barisan Nasional government.
Since then, Guan Eng has been criticised for "indoctrinating children with political propaganda"
Barisan Nasional (BN)'s strategic communications deputy chief Eric See-To said Guan Eng's "stunt" would be slammed in foreign countries.
"Imagine indoctrinating young children in public with political propaganda like this? How much lower can you go?" Eric was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
However, DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim defended Guan Eng's use of the song
He claimed that the song was factual because GST had pushed up prices.
"Was Bank Negara engaging in political propaganda when it said the same thing?" Steven asked.
"Besides, the song doesn't say undi DAP nor does it carry any political logo," he added.
Nonetheless, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Penang Front Party (PFP) have urged the police to investigate Guan Eng for allegedly exploiting children for his political interests
PFP chairman Datuk Patrick Ooi, Penang Surplus Welfare Association chairman Sophian Mohd Zain, and 1Malaysia People's Welfare Association president Mohd Ibrahim A. Siahoo lodged police reports against Guan Eng at the Northeast District Police Headquarters (IPD) yesterday, 18 March.
According to Malay Mail Online, Patrick described the song as "sarcastic", and said it was insulting the Barisan Nasional government.
Sophian also said Guan Eng was introducing an "unhealthy culture", and exploiting children for political purposes.