Yesterday’s violent incident at the DAP kopitiam talk in Masai, Johor was most disgraceful and must be condemned by all political parties and all right thinking Malaysians.
DAP Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang who was unhurt had said that bowls, plates, and punches were aimed at the DAP entourage. Even a broom was thrown at him and a table was overturned.
DAP MP for Kluang, Liew Chin Tong had thugs choking him when he made his way to his car while Johor Pas complaints head Syed Othman Abdullah was slapped when escorting Kit Siang out of the kopitiam.
Kit Siang has said this was the first violent incident he had faced in his political career spanning almost half a century.
Such culture of political gangsterism is dangerous and must be stopped. The Police and the Attorney General must take swift action on the thugs.
Since Pasir Gudang Umno members were clearly involved in the incident, Umno President Dato Seri Najib must also take the sternest disciplinary action against those involved.
A Bernama report has reported that approximately 100 Umno supporters were furious over Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong’s statement which allegedly insulted the Malay party and its president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
This cannot be the excuse and cause for the violent incident. What was so offensive for Liew to say that even Umno members were trying to topple Najib?
Is it not true that Najib himself has been saying that Tun Mahathir has been trying to topple him using the 1 MDB issues?
It was obvious that the attack was preplanned/ preagitated because firstly, a whatsapp message was earlier spread to call on the people to gather to stop “ komunis LKS ” from going into their area and secondly, , during the melee, the group were shouting ‘Balik Kit Siang (Kit Siang must leave)’, ‘Babi (Pig)’, ‘Communist chauvinist’ and ‘Mampus (Go die)’.
Umno President and the Police must act swiftly and sternly to send to all a clear message that political gansterism will not be tolerated.