Referring to the newly-launched Penang Front Party (PFP), which said it would support the idea of having a casino in Penang, Lim said that Umno cannot run from being associated with them as the new party’s adviser was an Umno MP, Zahidi Zainul Abidin.

“Penangites have a clear choice – Pakatan Harapan, which will not support the building of a casino. Or Barisan Nasional, where its leader, especially an Umno leader was willing to sponsor a new party to build one,” Lim said in a statement today.

The DAP Secretary-General said Umno must also apologise to Penangites for supporting PFP, which had announced its aspirations to build casinos in the state, during its launch on Monday.

“If Umno wants to repent, they should collectively say sorry and take disciplinary action against their MP (Zahidi) for being complicit with the party in its aspirations.

“Umno also has to dissolve this party, or risk being called hypocrites and political dramatists who are gambling away Penangites’ future,” Lim said.

PFP, a largely Chinese-based Penang political party, was launched on Monday with the aim of contesting in at least 25 state seats.

PFP leaders said they would ask the Federal Government to approve a casino licence for Penang in a bid to spur the economy. They had claimed that a casino in the state would see an expected revenue of RM3 billion annually in the long run.

Attempts to reach Zahidi for comment failed.