A number of protesters had fracas with the police during the rally demanding citizenship for local born stateless people outside the National Registration Department (NRD) headquarters in Putrajaya this morning.

NONE As some 500 rally participants flooded the narrow entrance to the NRD 11.15am, some of the impatient protesters insisted in wanted to enter the NRD headquarters, but the door was closed to and heavily guarded by two lines of police officers and men.

At that point, PKR vice-presidents N Surendran and Chua Jui Ming were seen negotiating with a police officer with the rank of superintendent, and demanding that they be allowed to enter the building.

Finally, the police allowed 10 representatives to meet with NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said. A number of several protesters unhappy with the limit imposed shouted Buka pintu! (Open the door) and Reformasi! , which is the PKR battle cry.

Some of the protesters also began further pushing the crowd  in front towards the door and tried to overrun police barrier.

However, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders tried to calm the emotional protesters and told them to keep the rally peaceful – and the crowd calmed down.

'Issue them late application forms'

After a two-hour meeting with the NRD officers,  representatives of protesters, including Surendran, R Sivarasa and M Manogaran, stepped out of the building at 12.45pm.

NONE Surendran announced that NRD agreed to set up the counters to process the applications of stateless persons, but stressed that the NRD should give them “late application” forms for their MyKad, not application forms for citizenship.

"All of us here were born in Malaysia and we are Malaysian citizens. By right we should get the IC application form," he told the gathering.

Asked whether the turnout was an indication that the number of stateless persons might not be 300,000 as claimed by Pakatan Rakyat, Surendran defended by saying it was not "Pakatan’s job" to bring all stateless persons to the NRD.

"We stand by on our 300,000 figure... (The government) should not throw the burden on the opposition to resolve it. It is absurd (for) Pakatan to bring 300,000 people here today."

Instead, he criticised the NRD, saying it had "failed" to register all the qualified stateless people and suggested that the department "proactively" approaches stateless people and registers them.

Three counters were set up in front of NRD headquarters later in the day to assist the people to apply for their MyKad.

Chua: MIC Youth leaders pushed me

Meanwhile, Chua Jui Ming claimed that he was pushed by several MIC Youth leaders and members during the negotiation outside the NRD headquarters.

"Why did the MIC try to stop us? They are the traitors of the Indians".

NONE Chua claimed that the MIC Youth leaders pushed him on the shoulder, but he did not suffer any injury.

His claim was backed up by Surendran, who told reporters that he recognised some of Chua’s assailants as MIC Youth leaders and that they were wearing shirts bearing the 1Malaysia logo.

However, the MIC Youth chief T Mohan when contacted said the PKR team was provoking MIC Youth members there by calling them “MIC gangsters”.

“Surendran is a liar. They provoked my boys. How will Surendran feel if we call him gangster?” Mohan said when reached by Malaysiakini late this evening.

He also challenged PKR to show the proof of its claim and to and lodge a police report.

NONE However, Mohan ( left ) declined to provided the name of the MIC members who were present with the gathering at the NRD headquarters.

Earlier in the morning, some 300 people gathered in Putrajaya to march to the NRD headquarters to drive home the problems of stateless people in the country who were suffering without personal identification documents.

The protesters, who have been arriving from 10am, began their march to the NRD headquarters an hour later from their gathering point adjacent to the Palace of Justice.

The rally was largely organised by PKR.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to rectify the problems that have brought about stateless persons if Pakatan Rakyat forms the federal government.

NONE Many protesters held up a mock red MyPR (Malaysian permanent resident) identification cards bearing the images of the prime minister and home minister to illustrate their claim that the government has failed them in their bid to obtain citizenship.

The protesters chanted slogans such as "Fight for rights" and "Fight for IC rights", in Tamil and in Malay.

Among of the Pakatan leaders who delivered speeches before the rally began were Sivarasa, who is Subang MP, Kapar MP S Manikavasagam, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefli Ahmad.

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