Event for Ambiga pelted with eggs and stones

An angry mob pelted two DAP state assemblypersons and party supporters at a high tea event in Merlimau, Malacca today that was to feature Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

When contacted, Ayer Keroh state rep Khoo Poay Tiong (left) said the some hecklers had attacked him and Bandar Hilir rep Tey Kok Kiew while they were leaving the venue after the event.

“A stone hit me and the eggs hit our vehicles. One of our members’ windshield was also broken,” he said (top photo).

Tey's vehicle had one of its tyres punctured, a side mirror broken and its body badly dented by the hecklers (last photo below).
He has since lodged a report at Merlimau police station.

Earlier, Malaysiakini’s phone conversation with Khoo prior to the attack was cut off after incessant screaming was heard in the background.

Khoo said some 200 people whom he claimed were linked to Malay rights group Perkasa, had blocked off the main entrance leading to the event in Malacca organised by the Malacca PAS Supporters' Club.

"Anyone who wanted to come in had to use the kampung road, and police have advised people not to attend to event," he said.

The group clad in red T-shirts - some were the same ones worn by the crowd at last week's Umno 66th anniversary at Bukit Jalil stadium - heckled outside the event while it proceeded.

The intrusion took place despite Ambiga’s last-minute cancellation due to concerns that some parties may have intentions to "create chaos" at the event.

Khoo said they however decided to proceed with the event as some 300 participants had already turned up.

"Everything is okay inside (at the event), but it's a ruckus outside," Khoo told Malaysiakini during the event.

‘Utterly appalled at intimidation’

Yesterday, a number of pressure groups lodged a police report against Ambiga in an attempt to prevent her from setting foot in Merlimau for the event.

In a Bersih Youtube posting later, Ambiga (right) said she had wanted to attend the event but decided against it after being advised by organisers.

"I was still going to go but I had received news that there is every intention from some quarters to create chaos and to stop me from speaking in Merlimau.

"As a result the organisers, after consulting with the police have asked me not to come," she said.

Ambiga added that she was "utterly appalled" at the level to which certain parties had descended in attempting to prevent her from speaking.

However, she said that voters should take this incident as a lesson.

"It is good for Malaysians to see what is happening here. I call it voter education. Voters must now decide whether this is the kind of Malaysia we want.

"Where ordinary citizens can be threatened and stopped from travelling within their own country and intimidated from giving speeches at the invitation of others," she said.

Heckling at Pakatan ceramahs have been a common sight in recent months as widely speculated early GE looms.

However, this is the first time an event has been disrupted specifically targeting Bersih.