Videographer claims attack by Perkasa during rally

A staff member of the Penang government’s information department has lodged a police report against Malay rights group Perkasa for acting violently against her while she was on duty covering a rally organised by the latter in Komtar.

Lilian Chan, who is a videographer attached to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s office, said she was kicked twice on her legs by a Perkasa member at about 2.45pm on Friday, at level 3 of the Komtar building.

Chan (left in photo, with Lim) said she had been instructed by her boss Yap Lee Ying to cover theincident, where the group had handed in a letter to Lim, giving him a one-week ultimatum to clarify queries on the alleged sale of a plot of land reserved for a mosque in Bayan Mutiara.

“When I was kicked for the second time, I asked the person - Penang Perkasa Youth chief Risuan Azuddin - why he had kicked me,” said the former Citizen Journalist trained by Malaysiakini.

“He did not answer me. At that time, police and Komtar security personnel were ordering them to leave the area, where the state government offices are situated,” she added.The group of about 30 had barged into the state offices building and demanded to see Lim.

They were prevented from going up the 28th floor - the CM’s office - by security personnel.

Chan, a mother of four, had sought medical attention after lodging her report, and has been issued a medical certificate for suffering pain on her legs.

Chan said this was the second time the group had roughed her up. The first was on Feb 26, during the anti-Lynas rally at the Esplanade which was attended by about 500 people.

The event was organised by Suaram in support of Himpunan Hijau’s gathering In Kuantan on the same day, to oppose potential radioactive hazards from the Lynas plant in Gebeng.

Two journalists from a local Chinese daily - Kwong Wah Jit Poh - were injured in a fracas which broke out after Lim presented his speech.

Case being probed under causing grievous hurt

During the incident, the peaceful rally was disrupted by pro-Lynas supporters who included Perkasa members, and a man who was also with Risuan had seized her camera, said Chan.

“I am lodging this report because I was attacked, not once but twice, while on duty as a staff member of the state government,” she added.

According to the police investigating officer, Simon Kent, Chan’s case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Chan had a run-in with the law last year when Blog House secretary and blogger Tony Yew lodged a report against her for allegedly inciting the Christian community to participate in the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

As a result of investigations against her under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act and Section 27 (5) of the Police Act for participating in an illegal assembly, police carted away Chan’s 27-inch iMac and a modem, and has yet to return the equipment to her, despite her repeated pleas to have them back.