He said the powers that be have appeared to have taken a leaf from the underworld, with punishments meted out to those who have disapproved their doing.
He was responding allegations from a Penang cafe owner who claimed his three cafes were raided because he was critical of the state government.
“If the state government really wants to uphold law and justice, why no checks were carried out on other premises which had clearly violated the law?
“This is the a la gangster administration of the Penang government on anyone who dared to criticise.
“This is also a subtle warning to Penangites to not criticise the state administration, its chief minister and the ruling party in the government,” Huan said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Nanyang Siang Pau reported that a cafe owner claimed he was subject to stringent checks by the municipalities after he had hit out at a Penang leader on the Chinese dailies.
All three of his outlets on Penang Island and mainland Seberang Prai were scrutinised for faults. One of the municipal officers fined the owner for “having plants that attract insects”, he said.
State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow denied selective enforcement was in play and blamed Gerakan for fuelling racist sentiments behind it.
He said the owner of the cafes had violated laws and the local authorities had the right to take action. He also denied the action was due to what the cafe owner had said against the Penang government.