We're not with Umno, say 4 mat rempit

Four men claiming to be members of Pertubuhan Islam Gabungan Amal (Per3) turned up at the Penang legislature yesterday to deny allegations that Umno orchestrated last Monday's motorcycle rally against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Declaring themselves to be members of PAS and DAP, the four were received by Umno's Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Dr Hilmi Yahya in the legislature lobby.

They said they came to deny that Umno was behind the rally involving more than 200 mat rempit, wearing yellow T-shirts screaming 'LGE rasis' and 'Save Penang', who demanded that a racing track be built for them.

The group's spokesperson, Razali Ismail, 53, who said he is Teluk Kumbar Per3 chief, added that the bikers came from several political parties, not only Umno.

Razali said he is also PAS Teluk Kumbar chief and claimed that the three others with him were members of Pakatan Rakyat.

'We were not paid to join rally'

"We did not come to cause trouble on Monday, but to submit a memorandum for a racing track to the chief minister in a nice way, but he refused to accept our document," Razali said.

"We came today to clarify matters, that we have members from all political parties, including DAP, PAS and PKR, and we were not paid by anyone to join the rally, not even by Umno," he added.

Another of the four, Mohd Saifullah Ismail, 38, said he was a PAS member and he did not wear the yellow T-shirt.

"We wore our own T-shirts. Those who wore yellow ones were not part of us. We are NGO members, and have never registered with Umno," said Saifullah.

They were among 15 bikers who came to the state assembly yesterday, but only four were allowed into the compound to meet Hilmi.

Lee Boon Hin, (left) 36, said he was a DAP member and he joined the rally with the hope that the state government would consider building a race track to overcome themat rempitproblems in Penang.

"We only want a racing track as I believe it will reduce the mat rempit and social problems. I also hope that the state will not blame Umno for organising the rally," said Lee, who added that he joined DAP this year.

BN leaders have vehemently denied they were behind the rally, while Per3 chairperson Sabarudin Ahmad also distanced himself from the yellow T-shirt bikers, saying the NGO does not have a political agenda.

'NGO members involved in welfare programmes'

The fourth biker present was Amir Hamzah, 39, also from Teluk Kumbar, who said he joined PAS in June 2008.

Hilmi said the four had proven that he was not lying when he said that Umno was not behind the bikers.

He said if the Pakatan assemblypersons were not satisfied with the denials of the four, he could arrange for them to meet with other Per3 members in Teluk Kumbar, who were not from Umno.

This should be an eye opener for the state government, which should refrain from "talking whatever it wishes" (cakap ikut suka hati).

"They are NGO members involved in social welfare programmes. Please take note of this and do not simply blame Umno (for organising the rally)," Hilmi said.

State PAS commissioner Salleh Man said the party would investigate whether the trio were indeed PAS members or "individuals paid off" by certain quarters.

"In principle, PAS does not condone its members participating in mat rempit activities as they can cause a disturbance to the community and are dangerous," Salleh said.