By TAN SIN CHOW

PENANG: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng did not make any statement that he would do away with the New Economic Policy (NEP), DAP chairman Karpal Singh said.

"It is clear that Lim's statement has been completely misinterpreted and is out of context," he said Saturday at his office in Jalan Greenhall.

He said Lim’s statement on March 11 after being sworn in as Chief Minister, that he wanted to run the state government administration free from the NEP that breeds cronyism, corruption and systematic inefficiency, does not amount to sedition.

As such, he said the police report, lodged against Lim that he had made seditious and racist statements, contains a very serious allegation.

He said that the party took a very serious view over the allegation made against Lim.

On Saturday, The Star reported that lawyer Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan, 40, lodged a report at the Jalan Patani police station, saying Lim's statement is seditious, racist, irresponsible and may endanger public peace and national security.

He said under the Section 3 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, a publication shall not be deemed to be seditious by reason only that it has a tendency to point out errors or defects in any Government or constitution as by law established.

"Therefore, I would call upon the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan) to look seriously into the report lodged.

"If it is found to be without basis, action should be taken against this lawyer for lodging a false report," he said.