KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Lim Guan Eng has hit back at Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican over remarks describing ties between Umno and DAP in Penang as “cordial and tension free”.

Lim said Reezal’s comments were not only unfriendly but harsh towards supposed allies in the state government. He argued it was wrong to accuse DAP and PKR of indulging in identity politics, claiming instead that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) were the real culprits.

“Can ties between Umno and DAP in the Penang government remain cordial and tension free when Umno behaves like an ‘enemy within’ by making such unwarranted attacks? With friends like these, one does not need enemies,” Lim wrote in a Facebook post today.

He noted that Umno, once a bitter foe of PN, had now become its firm ally. 

“Will Umno use its current position to tap Penang’s government resources to help PN and sideline Pakatan Harapan (PH)?” he asked.

Lim said the time had come for PH’s leadership in Penang to act decisively on behalf of voters. 

“We must defend our honour and dignity as the state government and as elected leaders,” he added.