We were nearly beaten up by Umno rowdies: Nurul and Nik Nazmi

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad have lodged police reports over an incident at a Felda settlement in Gambang, where they were nearly beaten up by rowdy Umno hecklers who were trying to stop them from giving their ceramah or political lecture.

The Felda areas are the traditional bastion of Prime Minister Najib Razak's Umno party and there is great fear that young opposition leaders such as Nurul and Nik Nazmi might cart away further support with their rallies and presentations.

In particular, Najib appears sensitive over the Felda share listing that analysts have warned could result in the settlers losing their lands to new stakeholders once the company goes public.

In recounting the incident that took place on Sunday at the Felda Lepar Hilir 1, Nurul told of how a man in a red shirt had approached her in the coffee shop where the ceramah was being held. He then lunged at her.

“It was inches away, you don’t want to measure, it was very unpleasant. If our supporters had not parried it, then (opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim would not be the only one with a black eye,” she told a joint press conference held with Nik Nazmi on Monday.

Gambang police have since identified the attacker as Asrullah Affendi Abdullah. However, they have not provided any further details nor have they released a video of the incident. Nurul confirmed she saw a plainclothes officer recording the incident.

Samseng

Calling the assailants "samseng", Nik Nazmi estimates there were some 100 people at the PKR ceramah which began after 9.30pm. To disrupt the PKR duo, some 30 people, wielding Umno and BN flags stationed themselves at the coffee shop next door, where they played loud music to drown out the ceramah speakers.

The situation deteriorated and Nurul and Nik Nazmi were soon forced to leave under police escort.

“They shouted for Nik Nazmi to go back to Selangor, for me to go back to Lembah Pantai and called Anwar a sodomite, it was very demeaning. When we wanted to leave, the group attempted to block us, about four or five Felda auxiliary police had to be called in to escort us out,” said Nurul.

“When the police were negotiating with us the group shouted: Why you are talking to the opposition, why are you supporting the opposition. We are not interested in any drama, we just want to get on with our work."

Malaysia Chronicle