Umno-linked NGOs to go after Mat Sabu in Rembau ceramah tonight

A heated ceramah or political lecture in more ways than one may take place at Rembau in Negri Sembilan on Thursday night. About 1,000 veterans and their offspring plan to demonstrate against PAS deputy president Mat Sabu, who will join PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin at the political lecture.

Gerakan Memartabatkan Pejuang Negara chairman Razali Zakaria made the threat, telling Sinar Harian they were upset with Mat Sabu over the Bukit Kepong incident.

"We also want to know whether the ceramah at Rembau has a permit from the police. More than 10 police reports had been made on Tuesday and Wednesday against Mat Sabu's ceramah in the area of Rembau and Seremban, and I believe the number will rise," said Razali.

Additionally, Razali said his NGO plans to send three representatives to meet Mat Sabu to hand over a protest memorandum demanding an apology from him.

"We will send a letter to the organiser asking for space to meet Mat Sabu. This is all we want to do. We don't want to make trouble, " he said.

Police must act fairly

The political lecture will be held at Kampung Pulau Bintongan. Last week, Umno-linked Perkasa members overran a PAS ceramah in Seremban, causing a punch-up that left two PAS members injured.

Badrul, or better known as Chegubard, has welcomed any and all protesters who wished to hand over any memorandum against Mat Sabu or himself to the ceramah so long as they conducted themselves in an orderly manner.

"We have confidence everybody will behave themselves, if they don't, then we expect the police to act fairly and swiftly," Chegubard told Malaysia Chronicle.

Mat Sabu has been the target of Umno leaders since winning the No. 2 post during the PAS party election in June. At an August 21 speech, he was accused of saying the communists who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station in 1950 were heroes while the cops who defended it were traitors.

Mat Sabu has denied the accusations and has a video-clip of his tape to back up his words but the government has insisted on charging him for criminal defamation.

Malaysia Chronicle