PKR denies burning Umno flag

Umno resorting to cheap tactics, says PKR.

BALIK PULAU: Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff has refuted claims by local Umno Youth wing that Pakatan Rakyat supporters were behind the burning of the Umno party banner in Simpang Empat here yesterday.

Instead, he accused Umno of being the only party in the country capable of committing such acts of political violence.

“Everybody knows that political riots, vandalism, arson and street hooliganism are Umno brand of democracy.

“So it is hypocritical of Umno to accuse others of copyright violations. PKR will never emulate its undemocratic actions,” said Yusmadi.

Yesterday, Balik Pulau Umno Youth chief Azian Ariffin accused “the opposition” (Pakatan) of burning a party banner made of cloth put up along a road shoulder in Simpang Empat.

The flag carried the wordings: “Untuk Kesejahteraan Anda Undilah Barisan Nasional” (Vote BN for your prosperity).

In its police report lodged in Balik Pulau district police headquarters, the Youth wing claimed that it suspected the banner was set alight at midnight yesterday.

In the report, Azian alleged that the arsonist had poured petrol on the banner before torching it.

He accused Umno rivals of resorting to arson out of fear of the growing people’s support for Umno in the area.

But Yusmadi said PKR was never perturbed by the so-called growing support for Umno neither would it ever resort to arsonist act for political gain.

He rapped Umno instead for resorting to cheap tactics to portray PKR and Pakatan in a bad light.

“PKR would always resort to democratic means to resolve our political differences.

“We will never adopt the Umno culture of violence and intimidation,” said Yusmadi, who is PKR Balik Pulau division vice-chairman.