Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is incensed that pro-Umno bloggers are trying to finish off his political career by wrecking the life of his teenage son with “morally despicable and barbaric” lies.

In a statement issued today, Lim demanded that Umno acts against those who are guilty of this, to prove that the party does not employ "desperate, dangerous and dirty tactics" to cling on to power at any cost.

He condemned several Umno leaders for highlighting "this shameful episode" in their blogs, namely, Bukit Gelugor Umno division vice-chief Dr Novandri Hasan Basri and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaludin.

NONE Khairy (right) , the Rembau MP, had tweeted earlier @PapaGomo Mungkin dia roboh Kampung Buah Pala sebab nak ganti dengan Kampung Buah Dada (Perhaps he demolished Buah Pala village to replace it with ‘Boobs village’).

"I hope those poking fun and spreading lies about my young son can look at themselves in the mirror as a father, and ask whether they want their own child to suffer the trauma of such lies," said Lim.

"My family and I reserve the right to take any further action to protect my family. In the meantime, my wife and I will try to heal my young son and pray that he will recover from having his innocence so cruelly destroyed by these pro-Umno beasts."

Lim said if his critics wanted to finish him off, they could do their worst to him, but should leave his children alone.

Umno politicians have children too, he noted, but the DAP has never gone for their children and does not intend to do so.

"My son is very shaken up by these lies. He has also not gone to school for two days. I feel sad and that I am not able to protect (him) from these pro-Umno ferocious beasts.”

Promise made and kept

Yesterday, unsubstantiated allegations had gone viral on pro-Umno blogs that a VVIP’s son had been transferred out of his school due to disciplinary problems.

Lim also challenged Umno to publish the reports in "their newspapers".

Lim's son - a school prefect  who has been described as a good student - was recently transferred to St Xavier’s Institution in Penang.

His former school, SMJK Heng Ee, had denied that he had left due to sexual harassment complaints, as alleged by the blogs.

Lim clarified that his son was transferred to the school of his choice after scoring at least 6As in his PMR, as had been promised to him.

He said his son did not want to have his hair crew-cut as required for SMJK Heng Ee students, but wanted to keep his hair longer.

"For a young kid growing up, to be maligned in such a beastly and cruel fashion publicly is unacceptable and inhumane," he added.

Khairy defends posting

Meanwhile, Khairy defended his remarks on Twitter , claiming that the attacks by the opposition on BN leaders are far worse. 

"Common decency denied to BN leaders and their families for so long. Get off your high horse.

"What BN leaders and their families get from opposition is far worse. Don't be hypocritical," wrote Khairy to DAP international secretary.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who is also Guan Eng's father, too voiced his concerns on Twitter , stating that the Umno attack's on his grandson were a cheap shot.

“How PM/DPM feel if their children/grandchildren victims of such despicable/contemptible gutter attack built on lies?

“Will Najib/M’ddin condemn such despicable attack on innocent children by Umno cybertroopers? Is this Najib’s “political transformation”?”

“Confessed v sad/down/disheartened last 2 days unable 2protect my grandkids from such heartless cruelty/viciousness.Najib/Mddin condone them?” he wrote.

Pakatan leaders lash out at Umno leaders

In another development, BN leaders must answer to the attack against Guan Eng’s son, said the Pakatan Rakyat’s top leadership, as without their support this incident would not have taken place.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim lashed out at Umno leaders, saying that they would do anything to “cling on to power.”

“It only symbolises the pretence put up by these Umno leaders... talking about morals... we condemn such manners... we ask for them to stop such disgusting politics.. attack on families, wife and kids... know no limits to no cling on to power,” Anwar said to reporters.

“We  all have children and family but don’t stoop to such levels for politics to ruin a person’s family just to gain political mileage,” added the Permatang Pauh MP.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur), said that the accusations were “gutter politics of the lowest... in over 40 years of politics.”

“I call on the prime minister and deputy prime minister to state their stand on how they would feel if their children or grandchildren were the subject of such baseless slander.

“Is this the transformation that Najib (Abdul Razak) is talking about? There must be a stop to this and if you are going to have faith in politics or transformation of this country,” said Kit Siang, who is the grandfather of the 16-year-old.

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang) added that these attacks showed that BN were gearing up for elections.

“They should keep this disease of slander among themselves... we should actually understand and know that BN will play up such sensitive issues,” he said.