Harakah staff deny trespassing on Selangor MB's home, claim they were invited

Three employees with PAS mouthpiece Harakah who were arrested for trespassing on the Selangor menteri besar's official residence denied the accusations being levelled against them.

One of the trio, Suffi Kamari, claimed that contrary to the police report lodged against them, they had entered the menteri besar's residence to fulfil an invitation.

Suffi claimed that they had been invited by a representative of the conservative rights group Ummah to attend a meeting between Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and residents of Kampung Sungai Sireh Klang regarding land procurement for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

"I had informed the officers stationed (at the residence) that my purpose was to attend the meeting.

"I was then allowed in by the guards and entered the residence, attended the meeting, and even shook hands with the menteri besar.

"There was no provocation throughout the meeting," he said at a press conference today.

However, he claimed that an officer at the residence later accused them of trespassing, leading to their arrest.

Suffi said the trio have lodged a police report to clear their names.

Foiled attempts

Suffi's version of events was supported by Harakah chief operating officer Nadzir Helmi.

However, he said the trio had attended the meeting in their capacity as Ummah members.

The three Harakah staff were arrested on Friday and released from police custody yesterday.

According to a police report lodged by the residence keeper, one of them tried to walk into the menteri besar’s residence but was stopped by the police.

After his first attempt failed, the reporter allegedly tried to sneak in by hiding inside a Proton Waja, which carried the two others, who claimed they were going into the residence to attend a meeting.

However, the second attempt was also foiled by the cops, who inspected the sedan at the residence parking lot. - Mkini