DAP asks restaurant to take down ad

PETALING JAYA: A restaurant has been asked by DAP to take down an advertisement posted on its Facebook page that seemingly poked fun at the recent controversy surrounding Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the purchase of a bungalow in the state.

In a message to Iskandar Azaman, who owns Skohns Canteen in Damansara Perdana, DAP Media and Communications Officer Medaline Chang said that while she understood the advertisement was made in jest, she said it would be appreciated if Iskandar removed it.

Chang said that she had been directed to inform Iskandar that the allegations regarding Lim were unfounded and were being used as a distraction to “scandals plaguing the government”.

“We feel that it would contribute to the negative publicity surrounding the Penang Chief Minister.

“We would very much appreciate it if you could remove it,” said Chang on Friday.

Earlier that day, an advertisement featuring a picture of Lim with the caption “Skohns Canteen. Good food. Below market price” was posted on the Skohns Canteen Facebook page.

After receiving Chang’s request, the restaurant changed the image in the advertisement, adding the comment “Can’t afford lawyers”.

Later on, the restaurant posted another advertisement with the caption “No swimming pool. No high prices”.

The later advertisement had a disclaimer that the man pictured was not a Malaysian Chinese politician.

Chang later told The Star that her message was simply a polite request to Iskandar to take down the advertisement and that DAP had no intention to condemn him or badmouth his restaurant.

“If he had not taken it down it is unlikely that we would have taken any further action on the matter. We appreciate it that he did decide to take it down,” she said.