PKR seeks to meet IGP over political gangsterism

By Lisa J. Ariffin

September 09, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 —PKR wants to meet the federal police chief over the spread of "gangster culture" in politics and the incident where Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's bodyguard apparently waved a gun to disperse a crowd blocking the politician yesterday.

Claiming provocation by an Umno Youth group, PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said today party secretary general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution will seek to meet Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to discuss the incident and to "make sure the police give attention to gangster culture that threaten the country's democracy".

"Despite numerous reports made, until today it seems the police are not serious in taking any action in this case," Nik Nazmi (picture) said in a press statement.

He noted similar "gangster tactics" have been used on other PKR leaders prior to this incident, citing a rock-throwing incident during Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar's public talk in May.

Anwar had claimed that the bus, in which he was travelling for PKR’s Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat programme, was attacked by a group he believed to be Umno Youth members.

Plainclothes policemen detained the 37-year-old bodyguard at the scene when the incident took place at 3.15pm. Police and Special Branch officers were there to observe the event.

Local media reports said the bus in which Anwar was travelling was stopped by some youth who wanted to prevent them from entering the venue for the programme. The bodyguard alighted from a car near the bus and pointed the firearm at the youth.

At least four police reports were lodged by members of Jasin Umno Youth and the Belia 4B movement over the incident.

State police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said the bodyguard has been detained for questioning.

Anwar said today he will leave it to police to “establish whether the security behaved in self-defence and according to SOP (standard operating procedures)”.

Anwar's tour began during the Merdeka Day celebrations and is part of his campaign ahead of a general election that must be called by middle 2013.

He has focused on the east coast states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu and is now touring the west coast of the peninsula.