Penang Chief Police Officer Ayub Yaacob hinted today that Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional should lay down their guns during Ramadan.

He said he hoped during the holy month, all parties should set aside any feelings that may give rise to tension and misunderstanding.

NONEAyub (right) added that the first half of Ramadan was full of challenges but hopefully, these could be resolved in the second half of the month.

"Let the past be the past, do not bring these things, ...that may increase tension and misunderstanding, up again," said Ayub at a press conference at the Chief Minister's office in Komtar today.

"We are now at the stage of reconciliation. And it is a test to see how we can manage these issues and at the end of Ramadan may everyone come out as victors," he emphasised.

Ayub made his statement before CM Lim Guan Eng handed over RM10,000 as an annual contribution to the police and army for their efforts to maintain peace in Penang.

Recently, the spat between the Pakatan-led state government and Umno has escalated in Penang with the ongoing controversy that Lim's name had been used to replace the Agong's in Friday sermons in several mosques.

Before handing over the money, Lim thanked the forces for their hard work as the crime rate in Penang had plunged 18.1 percent in the first half of this year (January-July) compared to the same period last year.

NONEViolent crime rate had decreased 5.3 percent and vandalism 19.9 percent compared to last year, added Lim (right).

'Bullying tactics'

He was accompanied by his deputies DCM I Mansor Othman and DCM II P Ramasamy, while Chief of Staff from the Battalion II Division, Col Badrul Hisham Mohamad represented the army.

Meanwhile, Lim said several sectors which had used "bullying tactics" to get what they coveted was regretful.

"If these threats continue, no policies can be drafted and no government can exist. We must respect law and order so that government policies can be drafted and wealth can be generated and distributed in an effective manner," he said.

There may not be a perfect way to implement law and order but one must agree that an open mind is necessary to accept new ideas and change, stressed Lim.