'Stones hurled, bloodied face' – PKR Youth meet turns into street brawl

PKR AGM | Tension at the PKR Youth congress escalated into a street brawl this afternoon, leaving at least one person injured.

A fresh round of fighting erupted at around noon and dragged on for almost an hour. The melee started inside the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC) later and later spilt outside the building.

One PKR member wearing a corporate shirt was spotted with a bloodied face. Some members said that his injuries were due to stones being hurled.

The fighting erupted after delegates confronted youths clad in black shirts, who were present at the congress as observers.

It is understood there was unhappiness that observers were allowed into the hall where the congress was taking place while other Youth members, who claimed to be delegates, were barred.

Earlier, the PKR Youth secretariat said that only those with official passes were allowed in. The youths in black did not have passes.

One of the black-clad youths told Malaysiakini before the fighting broke out that they were brought go the place in busses, but they did not know about the congress.

"We were told there was a reformasi (event)," said Danial Iskandar, 21.

Asked if he was paid, he replied: "Not yet, but after this is over I think (we'll get paid). There are three days, I believe."

Danial was chased out by PKR Youth delegates soon after Malaysiakini spoke to him.

This morning, there were scuffles at the start of the congress when former PKR Youth permanent chairperson Mizan Adli Mohd Noor was barred from entering the hall.

PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir at a press conference, while the fighting was ongoing, said he would look into the matter, and stated that action would be taken regardless of which camp those involved are in the fighting.

When contacted during the scuffles, Malacca police chief Mat Kasim Karim told Malaysiakini that they have officers on stand-by around the venue, including a team of Light Strike Force (LSF) anti-riot personnel stationed at a police station nearby.

The LSF was deployed to the venue after Friday prayers.

"We also have officers including those in plainclothes monitoring the situation," he said. 

According to Mat Kasim, the congress organising committee and police had agreed earlier that the former would be in charge of security inside the congress venue.

When asked about the injuries inflicted, the police chief said he would check with his officers first for the latest situation report. - Mkini