He said troublemakers, too, had the right to be in public places and Penangites should have the courage to stand up to them.
Lim said some 30-odd hecklers had tried to stop the recent gathering of Bersih members at an open-air public speaking place at the Esplanade.
He said thanks to the police, no untoward incidents were reported.
“The message must be sent to the gangsters and hooligans … that people of Penang will not back down,” Lim said in response to a query on the recent disturbances at public events.
On Sunday, a group of 20 men had tried to interrupt a Bersih vigil for Maria Chin Abdullah at the Speakers’ Square, Esplanade, here.
A police light strike force prevented them from disturbing the Bersih members further.
The square is a public corner modelled after Hyde Park and those who wish to voice out issues can do so on appointed days and times.
Before that, cartoonist Zunar’s exhbition at Komtar was interrupted and cancelled following a row with Umno Youth members.
This led to the arrest of Zunar for disturbing the peace. He was let out after investigations.
Meanwhile, Lim said while the job done by the police was commendable, it was important for the general public to be vigilant during times of unrest.
“Sometimes, it is necessary to remind the people of Penang to look at the real face of BN and Umno. This is their real face.
“They attack you, they hit you, they assault you. And for them, the only freedom they believe in is the freedom to lie,” he said.