Penang Bersih anniversary heckled, two arrested

Chaos erupted at Suaram’s rally in Penang to mark Bersih 3.0’s one month anniversary, after a group of men started shouting at a state assemblyperson.

Trouble started when the unidentified group started heckling the gathering at the Esplanade today, challenging Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin to a debate.

Despite the provocation, no one responded and participants of the rally who were already dispersing, tried to distance themselves from the venue at the Speaker’s Square.

The noisy group however persisted, shouting at a participant Dalbinger Singh who was speaking at another corner, challenging him to debate with them.

The rowdy group approached him at 7.30pm, and a fracas broke out.

Several plainclothes policemen intervened and tried to separate the group from the participants.

Several people, however, continued to chase Dalbinder around the field despite some senior citizens trying to protect the latter.
Later, Georgetown OCPD Gan Kon Meng confirmed that two men have been arrested for being involved in a fight, and are being investigated under section 160 of the Penal Code.

One is Perkasa Penang exco member, a 32-year-old factory technician from Pantai Jerejak who was amongst the hecklers.

The other is a 51-year-old DAP member who had tried to protect Dalbinder from being physically abused.