Gerakan has expressed its disappointment and anger towards the groups who had protested in front of the Penang state legislature assembly last week.

NONE Balik Pulau landowners affected by state land acquisition, Umno Youth, Komtar traders and members of Parti Cinta Malaysia were among those who were involved in the noisy protest outside the assembly on Tueday.

The party's Sungai Pinang coordinator Dr Thor Teong Gee said that while Gerakan respects the rights of individuals and groups to express their concerns and opinions but it should be done through a proper channel, peaceful and civilised way.

Thor, a doctor by profession, said that the groups which protested against various issues including land acquisition, hike on water tariff and the ‘haram' RM100 senior citizens appreciation award "should not have become violent and disrupted the proceedings of the assembly meeting.

Assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said the rally was so noisy that it had disrupted the proceedings of the House, which prompted him to seek the assistance of the police to guard the building in the coming proceedings, which starts tomorrow.

"The dignity of the assembly should be protected and preserved; the unwanted action by this small group of people already tarnished the dignity of the assembly," said Thor, at a press conference outside the assembly building yesterday.

"The action by a small group of Umno Youth was uncalled for and unacceptable; being a political party Umno Youth should lead by example," he added.

Noisy demo

Last Tuesday, about 100 people held a noisy demonstration in front of the assembly building for close to one hour before a protestor was arrested by police around 11.30 am.

The group were upset that they were not allowed to enter the compound to meet Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was presenting the 2011 budget in the House.

The various groups representatives were later allowed in to hand in their memorandum, which was received by Lim's political secretary and Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik.

NONE Meanwhile, Thor ( right ) said the "recurrence of violent demonstrations and protests have annoyed many Penangites who love peace and healthy political competition".

Gerakan had a run in with Umno in 2008 when its members tore the photo of the party's president Koh Tsu Koon.

He said that Penang Umno has 11 state assemblypersons in the Penang assembly and the Youth wing only needed to approach one of them to raise any issue for discussion and solution, instead of resorting to violence by shouting outside the assembly.

"Obviously, the conduct of certain politicians is regressing; I am urging the Minister of Education, instead of making history a compulsory pass subject in 2013, it should seriously consider to make moral studies compulsory," he said.

"Everyone must pass this subject to show the seriousness of the government to tackle the issue of regression of conduct and behavior," he added.