Rafizi: Cops watched as Umno supporters attacked PKR Hq

PETALING JAYA, March 12 — Suspected Umno members have again been implicated in a violent attack against the opposition, including a threat to torch PKR’s headquarters here yesterday, just days after the party’s leadership alleged assault by government supporters in Malacca.

Yesterday, hardline group GMM, a known pro-Umno outfit, had gathered in front of the PKR building in a protest against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who the group alleged is the instigator of the Sulu militants’ incursion of Sabah.

About 50 of them, wearing white tees printed with anti-Anwar motifs, took turns to pelt the building with rocks, eggs, sticks and traffic cones. The group also torched the party’s flag.

Party strategy director Rafizi Ramli(picture) claimed the police from the Tropicana station, just two doors from the PKR headquarters, merely stood and watch.

“The violence is premeditated because they brought eggs, sticks and traffic cones specifically for (yesterday’s) event. Apart from behaving violently, these Umno followers had also threatened to torch our building which is a criminal offence.

“During the incident, not one police officer intervened to stop the violent conduct which is against the law. It is most embarrassing that the Tropicana police station is just two doors away,” he told reporters here.

Rafizi noted that the police responded in a similar manner when Anwar was attacked in Malacca and the party’s vice-president Chua Tian Chang received death threats following his alleged controversial remark on the Lahad Datu armed conflict.

The incident in Malacca, where a bus carrying Anwar was pelted with rocks and a scuffle broke out between alleged Umno members and PKR supporters at a ceramah, was the sixth incident, and the second in the state, since the federal opposition coalition launched its “Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat (People’s Merdeka Tour)” campaign last year.

Anwar was among those who were hit by glass shards when alleged Umno supporters threw rocks at the bus as it was leaving the ceramah. Several PR supporters, including two police officers, were said to have been injured by the scuffle.

Videos of the fracas were captured and have been posted on video-sharing site YouTube.

“With all the violence that injured many, the police were not instructed by their superiors to apprehend the Umno supporters who were insolent, law-breaking and a threat to public safety,” Rafizi said.

PKR leaders had blamed the police’s “soft” response to previous such incidents for the escalating violence, saying their inaction as well as the silence from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, had encouraged and emboldened Umno supporters to attack their PR counterparts.

Rafizi argued that police inaction have forced Pakatan Rakyat leaders to hold Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been silent on the matter, responsible for the violence.

He also claimed yesterday’s violent protest in front of PKR’s office was an Umno attempt to tarnish Anwar by linking him to the conflict following allegations by the Philippine media that an opposition member allied to the PKR de facto leader had instigated the Suluks to invade Sabah.

“I am convinced that it was a well-planned effort by Umno/BN to exploit the Lahad Datu intrusion as a political model to demonise Anwar.

“This hate politics is played by Umno/BN as an excuse to threaten the safety of PKR’s leadership through a series of violent acts,” he said.

Although no proof was presented, government-linked media like Malay daily Utusan Malaysia and news network TV3 have continued to implicate Anwar in the Sabah armed conflict.

The opposition leader has denied the allegation and initiated legal action against his detractors.