Bersih's forum in Bayan Baru tonight was interrupted for about 30 minutes when a group of red shirt protesters caused a commotion by confronting the speakers.
The group of about 50, led by Bayan Baru Umno information chief Ridzwan Bakar and state Umno youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim, came into the hall more than an hour after the forum started.
The forum, titled ‘Post-Bersih 4: Where is Malaysia Heading?’ kicked off at 8pm at the Dewan MBPP, Pasar Bayan Baru in Penang.
Student activist Adam Adli, who was speaking, stopped his presentation when the red shirts walked in at about 9.30pm.
Forum moderator, PKR Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, greeted the group, saying, "We welcome our friends, we can share our views".
After Adam finished his presentation, Sim invited Ridzwan to address the forum.
The Umno man took the microphone and lamented about squatter problems in Sim's constituency.
"These problems make the Malay youths angry," he said.
'Not here to create chaos'
During the impromptu speech, Ridzwan assured the audience the group was not there to create chaos but to listen to the speakers.
However, he warned Bersih participants not to ever step again on photos of national leaders like Prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
"No one stepped on your leaders' photos during our rally, so don't do it to our leaders," he cautioned, greeted by 'Allahuakbar' from his supporters.
Bersih has denied that it was involved in the incident.
After Ridzwan's speech, a group of red shirts then surrounded Adam, demanding to know why he had insulted Prime Minister Najib Razak by "messing around" with his poster during a rally in Kuala Lumpur a few years ago.
Another group also targeted their shouts at Sim's aide and another PKR leader for "slandering" the red shirt gathering in a Facebookposting.
The police, who were present at the talk, intervened when the situation became tense.
Before the red shirts left, Sim invited Ridzwan and Rafizal to snap a group photograph with him and they complied.
The forum resumed after the red shirts left the venue.
Speakers at the forum include Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, Bersih manager Mandeep Singh, and Jingga 13's Fariz Musa.
'We must continue to dialogue'
Speaking to reporters after the forum, Sim said he would not be lodging a police report as the group was not violent.
Asked if he felt threatened by the incident, Sim said "no", vowing to continue to dialogue with the Umno protesters.
Maria added that even if the red shirts continue to pose a problem to Bersih or create chaos during its activities, the show must go on.
"We must continue to dialogue with them, so that they would understand our struggle," she added.
Adam said the group queried him about his actions in 2011.
"They merely wanted some clarification; they did not even know what they were asking," he added.
Toh Kin Woon, Bersih northern region coordinator and former Gerakan assemblyperson, was also present, together with PKR MPs Chang Lih Kang and Lee Chun Cheong.
Bersih held a mammoth 34-hour rally in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 29 and 30, to demand, among others, for Najib's resignation over his handling of 1MDB’s financial woes and the RM2.6 billion donation into his private bank accounts.
The electoral reform movement's rally was countered by the pro-Umno red-shirt gathering yesterday, during which racial slurs were hurled against DAP, the Chinese community, and non-Malay reporters covering the event.
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