Pertubuhan Islam Gabungan Amal (Per3) has denied any linked to the mat rempits wearing yellow T-shirts which bore the slogan ‘LGE racist’ who rallied noisily near the Penang state legislative assembly building on Monday.

LGE is in referrence to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, where more than 200 protesters, mostly youth, also unfurled banners saying ‘Save Penang’ and ‘(We) want a racing track’.

NONEPer3 founder and president Sabarudin Ahmad said the NGO has never issued any yellow T-shirts with such words to its members, and claimed that the motorbikers who rallied were not part of the organisation.

He added that Per3 members have their own uniforms with their organisation’s logo, saying that probably “those motorbikers who wore yellow T-shirts were not aware of what they were wearing”.

“We don’t know who gave them those T-shirts,” he claimed at a press conference held with 10 others Per3 members at the state opposition office in the state assembly.

Sabarudin then insisted that Per3 was not affiliated to any particular political party as its membership comprises of those from all parties, including Umno.

He said the organisation can show proof of card-carrying members who not only come from Umno, but PKR and PAS as well.

He added that the NGO does not reject other ethnic communities and religions but was very concerned about the situation of the Malays in Penang, especially the mat rempits.

‘We are okay with Mansor and Malik’

He admitted being invited and had participated in state government programmes held by state executive committee members - Deputy Chief Minister II Mansor Othman and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

NONEYesterday, Barisan Nasional assemblypersons denied any link with the protesting motobikers although Hilmi Yahya (Teluk Bahang) admitted having launched the NGO in July, and had advised the group to focus on “positive” activities like charity work.

Sabarudin said the NGO was disappointed that the group failed to hand in a memorandum to request for a racing track from the state government as its members were blocked when they went to Komtar on Monday.

“We wanted to hand in the document peacefully but regretted that we were met with unpeaceful action by the police when we tried to meet Lim here,” said Sabaruddin.

Sabarudin said that about 200 members took part in the rally, where only two members, including himself, were arrested by police.

Georgetown OCPD Gan Kon Meng said five people were arrested and would be investigated for illegal assembly under the Police Act.

Mat rempits 'a big social problem'

Meanwhile, Sabarudin added that Per3 was Islam-orientated and was concerned about the plight of mat rempits, who are part of a big social problem in Penang, and the country.

He urged all sectors to refrain from labelling the group ‘mat rempits’ which bring a negative connotation, but to help them find a space in society.

NONEHe demanded an apology from Komtar assemblyperson and Lim’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik, who had described the motorbikers as “street gangsters” (samseng jalanan).

But Ng, in an immediate response, said that the term was first used by the police in 2009.

Sabaruddin also urged that the motorbikers be treated with compassion and allowed a space to express themselves as “they are also humans”.

“Why call them stupid? Do you mean the fathers of these youths are stupid as well?” he queried.

“If we (state government) can approve licences for massage parlours and cyber cafes which can bring a negative effect to the community, why can’t we ask for a racing track,” he asked.

However, Sabarudin is unable to identify which location he wants for the racing track but says it must be within the island.

When asked about the Batu Kawan stadium in the mainland, where motorbikers usually carry out their racing activities, Sabarudin said the location was not suitable.

“That is because the motorbikers usually get arrested by police after racing there,” he lamented.

Per3 denies being paid to rally

When told there were allegations that Per3 members were paid to organise the rally, Sabarudin said, “We are neither paid nor can we be bought.”

“Just because we are using the opposition room does not mean we are being paid by them. We just need a channel to express ourselves. If we know the proper channel, we will us it,” he replied.

In a related development, reporters identified Sabarudin as being present at another rally at the state assembly gates in May last year, which was attended by Umno Youth deputy chief Norman Dahlan.

Sabarudin said he joined the rally to protest the eviction of Kampung Genting in Balik Pulau as part of the state land acquisition exercise to make way for development.

“We did not know Umno members would join the protest, we only knew it when we arrived at the state assembly,” he claimed.