Under attack for choosing work instead of joining a pro-Anwar rally, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng denied that a warning was issued to DAP reps not to attend the event in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

“No such thing. It is a blatant lie by BN media,” he said, refuting a Bernama report published today which claimed he issued the warning to DAP assemblypersons.

The report was also carried by the News Straits Times and Malay Mail Online.

“We may not be at 307 (date of the rally tomorrow) but our spirits are there with those who attend,” the DAP secretary-general told Malaysiakini.

“We do not oppose the rally.”

To be held in front of Sogo Shopping Mall between 4pm to midnight tomorrow, the rally is to demand for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to be freed of his five-year jail sentence for sodomy.

Organised by NGOs and youth wings of the opposition parties, the gathering, deemed “illegal” by the police, is also to demand that Najib Abdul Razak quit his prime minister post, held since April 2009.

Lim created waves in social media when he said he would not be attending the rally due to work, adding that he, and other Pakatan state assemblypersons were required to be in their constituencies to hand out the RM100 cash award to senior citizens.

Organised annually since 2009, the award will be handed out to the elders tomorrow and Sunday.

His remarks, Lim said, meant government servants like the assemblypersons should put their duties ahead by being present at this weekend’s public event.

He was certain that Anwar will support his statement as his constituents in Permatang Pauh will be getting the money.

Lim said he issued a general instruction to all assemblypersons to be present at the senior citizen cash award presentation ceremony in the 40 constituencies in Penang.

“Some of the PKR reps said they would be rushing back to attend the event and I understand.

“I said their presence were required in the constituency because their signatures are needed, there are procedures to follow,” he said.

He said the date for the cash distribution was decided before Chinese New Year which fell on Feb 19 and letters had already been sent out to the recipients.

‘They understand their obligations’

He has spoken to several PKR assemblypersons and they had no problems with his instruction, Lim said.

“They understand their obligations and are very conscientious assemblypersons.

“Since Penang reps are held back from attending the rally because of the senior citizen programme, we hope Pakatan reps in other states can attend the rally and represent us,” he quipped.

Malaysiakini has spoken to the PKR assemblypersons in Penang - eight out of 10 of them have confirmed their attendance at the rally.

Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon and Batu Uban assemblyperson T Jayabalan were not available for comment.