It was sheer pandemonium when about 200 Umno members gathered outside the Selangor state assembly in Shah Alam this morning to protest against the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

NONE They were met by a group of 50 pro-Pakatan people mobilised by the state government’s communication team which had earlier caught wind of the protest.

While the Umno supporters - who also claimed that there were several other representatives from various NGOs with them - had gathered at the cafeteria of the state mosque since 10am, the Pakatan supporters had lined up in front of the SUK gate to “greet” the protestors.

State communication chief Badrul Amin Baharom, who is also a cleric, gave them a pep talk, saying that they would defend the state government’s policies.

NONE At the same time, he said that they would send a memorandum to the state government, supporting their policies, and to defend them against the sand theft allegations by the state opposition leader Mohamad Khir Toyo during a site visit last week.

They also handed out fliers, stating the areas where sand theft had been prevalent since 2007.

But when the two sides met outside the SUK building, pandemonium broke out when they started verbally clashing with each.

Although the police had earlier attempted to separate them by asking the pro-Pakatan team to stay behind the SUK gates while the police - clad in riot gear - had formed a human barricade outside the gates, it did not stop the two groups from hurling insults at each other.

In a heated shouting match, the pro-Umno group also used their shoes to smack at MB Khalid Ibrahim’s picture on a banner which they had brought along.

NONE “Umno rompak. Tangkap Toyo,” shouted the state government communications team from the compound of the state secretariat building, which housed the Selangor state assembly.

“PKR rasuah,” replied the Umno members.

The Umno supporters, who were protesting against claims of sand theft by the state government, dispersed 45 minutes later after handing over a memorandum to the state government.

Khalid’s executive secretary, Azman Abidin, received the memorandum which was signed by Mohamad Khir and the state Umno chief Noh Omar, among others.

Later, an Umno youth exco member, Sohaimi Shahadan, said at a press conference that he is issuing an ultimatum to the state government to take action against the alleged sand theft.

“If he (MB Khalid) fails to act on it, we will come up with a more drastic action,” he said.

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