Klang mob attacks an 'organised scare tactic'

Klang MP Charles Santiago has raised suspicion that the mob attacks on pro-opposition rallies are organised scare tactics to control the Malay political ground.

Santiago (left) said this was because both incidents appeared to take the same pattern and occurred in Malay-majority neighbourhoods that were previously Umno strongholds.

"Last Saturday's incident was the first in my constituency, and the second recently in the greater Klang area.

"My view is that there is an organised attempt to spread fear to stop the culmination of ideas in Malay minds," Santiago said when contacted yesterday.

The first-term MP said he has never before heard of such violent disruptions of political rallies and civil society activities in Klang.

The first incident occurred on Jan 21 when an Anything But Umno (ABU) rally at Jalan Kebun had to be called off when youths on motorcycles trashed the venue, leaving one attendee injured.

Last Saturday, 15 student activists had to escorted out of Kampung Idaman by police when a mobstormed the venue of their academic freedom rally, breaking chairs, throwing rocks and damaging a car.

"I am meeting eye-witnesses to get a better understanding of what had happened. I urge all parties, including the organisers and the police, to be more vigilant," Santiago said.

'Hive of thugs'

Sharing his suspicions is Kuala Lumpur PAS Youth information chief Ridhuan Mohd Nor, who said the close proximity of the two incidents raised many questions.

"It is as if the area has become a 'hive of thugs' who will disrupt rallies by the opposition and civil society groups.

"Are they purposely 'bred' or sponsored by interested quarters to 'cleanse' these areas from the presence of activists and opposition politicians and to stop the rakyat from hearing what these groups have to say?" Ridhuan asked in a statement yesterday.

Agreeing with these views, human rights NGO Suaram executive director E Nalini said more of such "thuggish behaviour" meant to scare people away from rallies could be expected as the general election nears.

"This thuggish approach is used to stop... those from the opposition or anyone saying anything that is not in support of the (ruling) government," she said.

Nalini, who had witnessed the first incident in Jalan Kebun, said such disruptions would be repeated if the police did not take punitive action to stop the thugs, despite the many police reports lodged.

In both occasions, police told the media that the groups holding the events were not welcomed by the local residents.

Some residents of Jalan Kebun had also lodged a police report against the organisers of the ABU rally, whom they said were instigating trouble by hosting the event in their neighbourhood.

Police are still investigating both incidents.