TELUK INTAN, May 30 — Barisan Nasional (BN) continued to campaign on the night of the late Perak Sultan’s death, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng alleged today, as he rubbished criticisms against his party for disrespecting the ruler by resuming its political rallies 24 hours after his passing.

According to the DAP secretary-general, BN deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was merely playing up racial sentiment by accusing DAP of showing disrespect to the royal institution.

“Why can BN do it, but Pakatan Rakyat cannot? Instead, it was us who were accused of disrespecting the sultan,” Lim said in a press conference here.

“Even if you want to win, win with dignity… Does this not show that they are more desperate?”

Earlier today, Muhyiddin accused the DAP of disrespecting Sultan Azlan Shah, saying in the party’s desperation to win the Teluk Intan poll, it continued with its political rallies last night instead of observing a quieter campaign as a sign of respect.

In comparison, the Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister claimed BN had halted its campaigning yesterday to observe solemnity over the ruler’s death.

But disputing this, Lim and by-election campaign manager Tony Pua showed the media several news clippings where BN was reported as having several events on Wednesday and Thursday.

Campaigning in Teluk Intan was suspended by both BN and PR camps from Wednesday afternoon as a mark of respect to the late Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah who died the same day.

According to Pua, however, BN held a dinner session at Durian Sebatang on Wednesday night with 100 tables, as well as a meet-the-people session by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the same day.

In addition, Gerakan also reportedly held a dinner at Se Chuan Restaurant on the night, where party deputy speaker Syed Abd Razak Alsagoff delivered a short speech.

The DAP, on the other hand, formally resumed its campaign last night, holding a massive rally in downtown Teluk Intan, drawing a large predominantly Chinese crowd of thousands.

BN also held a hastily-convened rally near the Teluk Intan Leaning Tower last night, with a poorer attendance of a few hundred BN supporters.

The rally was originally slated to be part of a bigger event in BN’s campaign for the by-election before the death of Perak Sultan but had to be toned down as a mark of respect.