DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has queried whether Umno will castigate its MP for supporting a Chinese party that aims to build a casino in Penang.

Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the adviser of the newly-registered Penang Front Party (PFP), is the Padang Besar MP and Risda chairperson.

Quoted in Malaysiakini yesterday, Zahidi denied any wrongdoing, pointing to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also the adviser of Hindu-based Makkal Sakti party.

"Is Umno brave enough to act against Zahidi to prove that it is not a sandiwara (theatrics) to close up the controversy of sponsoring a Chinese party which aims to build a casino, to turn Penang into a gambling haven like Macau?" Lim, who is Penang chief minister, asked in a statement today.

"Penangites now have a clear choice between Pakatan which rejects any attempts to build a casino or BN, whose MP supports a Chinese party that wants to build a casino."

He urged Umno to apologise over the action of its MP backing a new Chinese party to defeat DAP and Pakatan Harapan in the coming national polls so it can built a casino.

Yesterday, Zainal claimed that PFP has obtained the support of 120 NGOs which wants the party to defeat DAP in the 14th national polls.

His role in PFP did not go down very well with his Umno comrades, with state party chief Zainal Abidin Osman describing the move as "unethical and inappropriate".

Zainal said Umno does not approve of PFP although it claims to be BN-friendly, nor will it accept a party that wants to promote gambling due to the sensitivities of the Malay and Muslim communities.

Meanwhile, Lim noted that Zahidi has yet to reveal the signatures of those representing NGOs which support PFP's plan to contest in 25 seats against the DAP.

He reiterated that building a casino in Penang goes against state policies.

The Pakatan government will only retain the existing gambling activities but will not give its approval for new ones, Lim said.

When the Finance Ministry approved football gambling licenses in 2010, Penang was the first state to reject and deemed it illegal, he added.

"Yet, the Pakatan government, DAP and I continue to be slandered as anti-Islam and anti-Malay," the Bagan MP lamented.

"But Umno which deem themselves the defenders of Islam has an MP who is willing to support a new Chinese party, which aims to set up a casino and turn Penang into Macau.

"If Umno wants to repent for its sins, they have to apologise and take action against their MP, and immediately seek to disband the new party which has obtained approval from the Registrar of Socities.

"If Umno failed to do so, they are not only hypocrites or acting in political sandiwara but also have the intention to gamble away the lives of Penangites by aiming to build a casino in the state".