VIOLENCE ESCALATES: Who is trying to stall the ceramahs?

NIBONG TEBAL-With just 10 days to go for polling on May 5, political campaigning has been marred by violence, with two "bombing" incidents on Tuesday night.

In the first incident at about 10.15pm, an explosion occurred behind the Barisan Nasional (BN) Nibong Tebal operations centre during a ceramah at which Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan was speaking.

A 35-year-old Umno Youth member was injured on his shin by shrapnel.

Penang police chief ACP Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said initial investigations indicate that the explosive device was made by professionals.

"It was a timed device. We believe it was not meant to cause injury but to create fear and trouble," he said.

A similar device found by police near the scene at about 2am was subsequently detonated by the bomb squad at 3am.

"The devices had been placed in a small box which contained wires and had timers set to detonate at a fixed time," Abdul Rahim said.

The case in being investigated under Section 6 of the Explosives Act 1957, which carries a punishment of up to seven years' jail and up to RM10,000 fine, or both, upon conviction.

Seven individuals have been questioned but no one has been arrested to date.

"I want to warn the public that stern action will be taken against those who create tension at such ceramah," said Abdul Rahim, who assured the public not to worry about safety and peace during the election period as there are enough policemen on patrol.

In a separate press conference, state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow condemned the violence.

"We want to win this election with policy and not with violence," he said.

In Selangor, the BN election operations room in Sekinchan was damaged when two molotov cocktails were hurled at the building earlier today.

Selangor police administration head SAC Hasanuddin Hassan said villagers who spotted the fire alerted the police at about 4am.

However, damage was minor as only campaign flags and banners were burnt.

Hasanuddin urged anyone with information on the attack to come forward to assist police.

Federal police public relations department head ACP Ramli Mohammed Yoosuf said police have received a total of 632 reports on various complaints and offences nationwide related to the general election.

He said 22 people have been arrested for offences such as criminal intimidation and assault.

Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar as saying that police will intensify surveillance at ceramah locations throughout the country to prevent a repeat of any undesirable incident like the one in Nibong Tebal.

-thesundaily