DAP lodges reports against Rafizal on Gurney Drive issue

DAP says Umno man’s allegation that Gurney Drive would be renamed Chin Peng Drive was intended to incite hatred for the state government.

GEORGE TOWN: Two DAP state assemblymen have lodged police reports against Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim for claiming that the state government was planning to rename Gurney Drive as Chin Peng Drive.

Wong Hon Wai and Yap Soo Huey lodged the reports at the Jalan Patani police station this morning.

The duo said Rifizal made the allegation with malicious intent based on rumours.

“Rafizal’s allegation was intended to stoke public sentiments and incite hatred against the state government,” said Wong, who is also the political secretary of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Wong claimed that Rafizal’s allegation was an offence under Section 505C of the Penal Code for uttering malicious statements against public interests.

He urged the police to take immediate action against Rafizal.

On Monday, Rafizal claimed that he had heard from the Chief Minister’s Office that Gurney Drive, which was named after former colonial British administrator Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney, would be renamed Chin Peng Drive.

The late Chin Peng was once the secretary-general of the outlawed Communist Party of Malaya.

Lim has since rubbished Rafizal’s allegations that the road name would be changed come January 1.