Despite video evidence, Umno insists PKR instigated ceramah violence

(The Malaysian Insider) - Umno today dismissed PKR’s claim that it has video evidence proving the former’s supporters were behind last week’s ceramah violence, maintaining instead that it was those from the opposition party camp who had instigated the fracas.

According to Lembah Pantai Umno information chief Datuk Ibrahim Thamby Chik today, PKR supporters were the ones who first disrupted Umno’s rally just moments before the opposition party’s own event 100 metres away was pelted with stones, eggs and water bottles.

PKR has branded Umno responsible for the night’s violence, which left at least two people injured, with the party’s vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar claiming to have documented evidence in her possession that Umno supporters were responsible for the attacks.

But despite the alleged video evidence, Ibrahim insisted to The Malaysian Insider that PKR’s supporters were already behaving in an unruly fashion an hour before Nurul Izzah or PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived, saying that the party’s supporters had interrupted the Umno rally taking place nearby.

“It’s definitely from the people over there. As far as I am concerned at about 9.30pm that night, our ustaz Ahmad Najib, who was speaking (at the Umno ceramah), was heckled by PKR supporters.

“This is before Nurul Izzah or Anwar arrived... we have accounts of this but do we blame them? No we don’t,” Ibrahim said.

Yesterday, Ibrahim and Lembah Pantai Umno Youth chief Datuk Mohamad Sazali Kamilan accused Anwar of provoking Thursday night’s violence at the PKR rally, and denied responsibility for the incident.

Anwar had called Umno Youth members who were at the latter party’s rally “sial” and “celaka” shortly after PKR’s event was attacked.

“That’s what they do best. They cause a ruckus and don’t take responsibility, blame others.

“We won’t stoop to their level,” Ibrahim added today.

Nurul Izzah has said PKR will lodge a police report against Lembah Pantai Umno chief Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, as well as Sazali and Ibrahim.

“Let her do that, she has a right to,” said Ibrahim.

Sinar Harian today quoted Raja Nong Chik as saying that he will issue a response to PKR’s allegations tomorrow.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has since condemned the violence and denied that any instruction was given to Umno Youth members to disrupt the ceramah.

Nurul Izzah is currently the Lembah Pantai MP. She won the seat by a narrow margin from Umno Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.

The first-term lawmaker is expected to defend the constituency and will likely face Raja Nong Chik in the coming general election.