CM rapped for bringing politics into a children’s programme

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been condemned for delivering a political speech to an audience of children and dancing along to a parody of the popular children’s ABC song that mocks the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He was recorded on video calling for GST to be abolished before playing the tune and lyrics on a projector on Saturday during a state endorsed event.

The video is a Facebook Live recording posted by Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim during the launch of the People’s Tuition Programme.

The song can be found in YouTube since April 2015.

Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow said it was inappropriate and irresponsible to bring politics into a children’s programme.

“School children don’t understand what is politics. They also have no idea what is GST.

“His action was not in line with his status as a state leader,” he said.

Meanwhile, a political party and two non-governmental organisations have lodged three police reports, urging the police to investigate the matter under the Child Act 2001.

Penang Front Party chairman Datuk Patrick Ooi said politicians should not involve school children in politics.

“Lim criticised when Barisan Nasional’s flags were distributed to school children in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, but he is doing the same thing now,” he said.

Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang chairman Sophian Mohd Zain said the act was an exploitation of children for Lim’s own political mileage.

“This is really unhealthy,” said Sophian.