Several injured in fracas at Mat Sabu ceramah

Two PAS supporters were injured at a ceramah in Seremban last night after a protest held by members of Malay rights group Perkasa across the venue of the event turned rowdy.

It was a Hari Raya-cum ceramah session and was supposed to start at 9pm, but as early as 8.30pm, more than 100 Perkasa members were already at the side of the main road about 60 metres from the stage holding a noisy gathering.

It was still calm when Mohamad Sabu - popularly known as 'Mat Sabu' (right, at podium) - started to deliver his ceramah around 10.15 pm.

The Perkasa members carried banners with slogans like “Mat Sabu Pembohong (Liar)”, “Mat Sabu Perosak Bangsa (Corrupter of the race)” and “Mat Sabu Hina Pejuang (Insults freedom fighters)”.

But when the Perkasa members attempted to move closer to the ceramah stage and were stopped by PAS supporters, then control - as well as stones and mineral water bottles - went up in the air.

Two PAS supporters were said to have been injured - one alleged he was punched by Perkasa members and another was spotted with an injury to his head from one of the stones thrown during the fracas.

A Unit Amal member alleged it was his men who were injured during the incident.

PAS Seremban deputy chief Ghazali Mat Som - one of the event organisers - expressed his regret over the incident.

“One man was injured at his nose. Another man injured on his head. Two men were punched at the cheek and another man was hit by stone at his back.

“One of the Perkasa man wanted to submit a memorandum, but we did not agree and asked them to disperse.

“Then we informed the police. When the police asked them to disperse, they resist and then showed their uncouth (biadap) behavior. Only when the police sent for more people did they disperse.

“I urged the police to take a fair action and in future to take earlier action against this kind of situation.

“My men have already gone to the Rahang police station to lodge a report”, said Ghazali.

Perkasa man 'scalded'?

Meanwhile Negeri Sembilan Perkasa secretary Alias Mohamad, who was present during the protest, told Malaysiakini when contacted this morning said that the group's demonstration was not against PAS, but an expression of protest against Mat Sabu.

“He hurt the feeling of many army personnel.

“There many former army officers last night and they were disappointed with Mohamad Sabu's stubbornness and unwillingness to apologise for his statements.

“He martabatkan (dignified) the communists and the communist symbol,” said Alias.

When asked to comment on the injuries of the PAS activists, Alias said: “We just wanted to submit the protest memorandum and we were stopped by the PAS supporters. This resulted in a situation of panic. It should not have happened.

“But I heard that one of my men (also) was hit with hot water from an unknown individual,” Alias asserted.

About 800 people attended the ceramah that proceeded following the incident.