KUALA LUMPUR, 22 MAY: A brief scuffle broke out in front of the DAP National Headquarters in Pudu this afternoon when a mob of about 50 UMNO Youth members gathered in protest of remarks made by Seri Delima Assemblyperson RSN Rayer in the Penang State Assembly on Tuesday, holding placards urging Rayer to retract his words and not to play with fire.
After gathering at the UMNO Cheras office at 3pm, the group proceeded on foot to the DAP HQ on Jalan Yew, carrying banners and shouting anti-DAP slogans. The group was led by Federal Territory UMNO Youth Chief Mohd Razlan Muhamad Rafi. A man holding a loud hailer led the group to chant “hidup UMNO” (long live UMNO) and “kurang ajar DAP” (rude DAP). The mob were met by police light strike force personnel who were dressed in protective riot gear.
Several irate members burnt a white t-shirt on a stick which had the words “RSN Rayer anak haram” written on it. The police prevented the group from entering the premises and a scuffle ensued when the angry UMNO members pushed police officers and demanded to be let in.
Police later allowed a small group to enter into the compound to meet representatives from DAP and to hand over a memorandum. Mohd Razlan Muhamad Rafi shouting warnings at curses at DAP MP for Serdang Ong Kian Ming.
“Ingat, sekali lagi saya dengar anda hina parti, saya akan bakar bangunan ini,” (If I hear another time about you insulting my party, I will burn this building)
He tore up the memorandum and threw it in the direction of Ong’s face. Ong and other DAP HQ staff were unhurt in the incident. Ong said that the party would file a police report on the incident.
“We strongly condemn the uncivilized and threatening behaviour of UMNO Youth FT and we ask UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin to apologize for the behaviour of his UMNO Youth members,” he said.
“While we support the right of any group in Malaysia to hold peaceful demonstrations, the behaviour of the UMNO Youth members were totally unacceptable and uncivilized. Not only did they use uncivilized language and shouted at me and DAP HQ staff who were there to receive their memorandum, they also destroyed a DAP signboard and threatened to burn down the DAP office,” Ong said.
The group cheered as Mohd Razlan shouted that “if they can call us ‘celaka’, why can’t we burn this building?”
The group continued to heckle DAP staff and shout profanities, at one point singing the song “inilah barisan kita”. Their placards read, ‘Melayu Umno bukan barang dagangan! Mampus DAP!’ (UMNO Malays are not for sale! Die DAP!) and “Jangan cabar Melayu” (Do not test Malays’ patience).
Several youths nearly came to blows with the police when they tried unsuccessfully to storm into the building. One youth broke away and tore down the party’s signboard at the entrance. The signboard is now broken. The incident took around 45 minutes as the group dispersed due to heavy rain thereafter.
They vowed to return tomorrow after Friday prayers. -The Rocket
