What was supposed to be a simple and harmless voter registration exercise in Malacca turned unruly last night thanks to some Umno Youth members who allegedly kicked and damaged a table.

They also allegedly cause injury to an opposition legislator in the process.

umno youth violent attack at dap event in melaka market 030709 04 The incident happened at the Taman Melaka Baru night market, which was within the Bukit Katil parliament seat, when Pakatan Rakyat members led by the DAP and PAS set-up a table for the voter registration exercise.

Malacca opposition leader and state DAP chief Goh Leong San, who was also at the scene, said a counter was set-up to facilitate the public to register and become voters.

"At about 6.30pm, a group of people from Umno Youth came and started jeering and harassing us. However, we did not fall into their trap of provocation and continued to attend to the people.

"About two hours later, a senior state Umno youth division leader who was with the group kicked our table used for registration. A small commotion erupted but Pakatan members remain calmed.

umno youth violent attack at dap event in melaka market 030709 01 "During the incident, Ayer Keroh assemblyperson Khoo Poay Piong suffered cuts when he fell," he said.

Goh, the Kesidang assemblyperson, said this was not the first time the Umno Youth members had behaved in such a manner.

"However, yesterday's incident was the worst. Following this, we and our PAS counterparts decided to lodge police reports," he said, adding that reports were lodged at the Melaka Tengah police station.

In all, eight police reports were lodged against Umno Youth by DAP and PAS leaders yesterday.

He said that the continuous ‘attacks' by Umno Youth members would not deter them from registering voters.

PAS: Very unbecoming behaviour

Malacca PAS information chief Sofi Wahab meanwhile said Umno Youth members acted as like thugs, and had even taunted the local council workers.

umno youth violent attack at dap event in melaka market 030709 03 "The 40 plus Umno youth supporters jeered at the local authority workers for not taking action on us.

"The local authority workers know the law and we were not campaigning. We were helping the Election Commission to register voters. The EC issued authority cards for us to do this," he said.

He added the ringleader, who was an Umno youth division leader, shouted vulgarities aimed at DAP and PAS leaders for setting-up the counter.

"Such rude attitude is certainly regretted and very unbecoming for a youth and Malay leader. They called out "YB bodoh" and other words. Then without provocation, they tried to destroy the table and banners which were put-up.

umno youth violent attack at dap event in melaka market 030709 02 "It was the timely intervention by the plainclothes policemen which prevented further incidences," he said

Umno: We were provoked

Bukit Katil Umno Youth secretary Safrie Abdullah when contacted confirmed the incident but claimed that they were provoked by the Pakatan Rakyat members.

Safrie said the local residents' association was against the setting-up of such counter by Pakatan members.

"Furthermore, this is a place of trade, not to recruit voters or attract them to political party," he said.

"Last week it was the DAP youth and this week they brought PAS members with them. Such exercise should stop as they do not represent the EC," he said.