Agent provocateurs at work in Permatang Pauh already?
5 08 2008
by Susan Loong

I believe some of those in Anwar Ibrahim’s party can be overzealous at times. They go all out to protect their “supreme” leader, at whatever cost. But then, it should not be at the expense of innocent parties.

These people can be quite annoying. I experienced it myself at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya. They can be quite rude. They do not know that a little manners can get them quite far.

At a time when the party needs all the support it can get, we hear stories of violence against photograhers?

Embarassing, and only legitimises Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s claim that we need more police in Permatang Pauh. See earlier post.

On Sunday night, Guang Ming Daily Loh Hoay Hoon, 25, was allegedly kicked, choked and hit on the head by a group of PKR security personnel. She was allegedly assaulted by a group of men who tailed her at the carpark after a ceramah by PKR supreme leader Anwar Ibrahim in Seberang Jaya, Penang (Malaysiakini).

But PKR is saying that the men who allegedly assaulted Loh was not from the PKR camp. Like I said earlier, could this be ‘agent provocateurs” at work already in Permatang Pauh?

PKR’s Tian Chua has issued a statement saying that the party regrets and condemns the incident.

That the party has investigated the matter and found that the man who allegedly assaulted Loh was not a member of the Security Squad. The party’s Chief Security, Mazlan Mohd Zaid, confirmed the matter.

Tian Chua said that it was probably planned by ‘certain’ parties to create chaos in a gathering which saw about 30,000 participants; and that the party was willing to assist the police invstigation in locating this ‘mystery man’.

He furthered said that it was unlikely that it was the party’s men who did it, as they had always welcomed the press, to cover their events.

PKR was committed to a peaceful and will ensure the safety of the people, particularly, the press, so that the incident will not repeat.

Party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has contacted Loh, and assured her that the incident would not happen again.

I do not know if by now, Loh has accepted the apologies. She has lodged a police report and the Malaysian Association of Chinese Photographers is planning to boycott PKR’s campaign. Seems like these incidents have been repeatedly happening?

MCPA deeply regrets that PKR’s top leadership has failed to look into their shortcomings and allowed similar acts of violence to be perpetuated. This is highly unprofessional,” said the statement.

PKR really has to buck up and be more vigilant when it comes to things like this. All eyes are on Permatang Pauh and their ’supreme leader’.

Extra care must be taken to protect the people who are attending those PKR events, not Anwar Ibrahim.

As any opportunity to show PKR as a violent party is on the top agenda of those who do not wish to see Anwar become MP of Permatang Pauh.