VIDEO | 1.26 min

Chaos erupted when a group of protesters comprising local villagers and PKR supporters tried to disrupt a pro-BN ceramah held at Sekolah Menengah Guar Perahu in Penanti on mainland Penang last night.

The group had gone into the school compound to stop the event - which centred on the bloody Lahad Datu incident, and the use of the word ‘Allah' in the Malay Bible.

NONE It is learnt that the group was protesting against the political ceramah being held in a school, when such premises are out of bounds to politics and politicians.

Hundreds of protesters - among them, state PKR Youth chief Amir Ghazali ( left ) - gathered around the school compound from 9pm, but their bid to enter the site was put off by a 100-strong police force.

Among the speakers was Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin, who turned independent after being sacked from PKR in 2010, and Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, a vocal spokesperson of NGO Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (Tibai).

Both speakers were able to present their speeches despite the noisy protest outside. Police detained a senior citizen for "trying to create trouble", but he was later released.

Central Seberang Prai district police chief Azman Abd Lah said no arrests was made, as the protest was "a normal (situation) during the election" season.

"There was no chaos, only a little disruption. We had deployed police officers, including the Light Strike Force personnel," Azman said.

He did not want to confirm that the ceramah was organised by Malay rights NGO Perkasa and Azman further went on to deny it was a ceramah, calling it "a meeting and a briefing".

NONE According to eyewitnesses, several protesters entered the school compound and turned rowdy, hurling provocative words and eggs at the audience. However, there was no physical clash and the crowd dispersed after midnight.

When contacted, state PKR chief Mansor Othman said the gathering of protesters had been "spontaneous" as many local people were angry about a political ceramah being held in the school, denying that PKR organised it.

"The residents lodged a police report about that yesterday afternoon, but the police did not respond. Also, this is the home ground of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim who keeps being slandered by Umno. There is certainly a limit to the people's patience," Mansor told Malaysiakini .

"When some gathered outside the school last night during the ceramah, many others, such as their neighbours and other kampung folk, joined them too."

‘Practising double standards'

Guar Perahu falls under the Penanti state seat, which is one of the constituencies under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, currently held by Anwar, who has recently been attacked yet again with photographs circulating on the Internet insinuating his sexual exploit with a man.

NONE "The police and the state education department are practising double standards. They do not allow us to go into schools to talk, yet they allow those who are pro-BN or BN leaders to do so," added the Penanti assemblyperson.

Mansor ( right ), who is also deputy chief minister I, said he would lodge a complaint with the state education department on the double standard treatment favouring the BN.

The incident comes after the party's vice-president Tian Chua was harangued twice, in Penang and in Lunas , since last Friday when he was doing his rounds at several ceramah sessions in Penang.

Tian Chua has been seeing attacks against him after he was accused of saying that the shootings in Lahad Datu were a planned conspiracy by Umno to divert attention and frighten the people.

He is being prosecuted for this under the 1948 Sedition Act, which he has denied.

'Organisers not respectful to local residents'

Expressing regret over the incident today, state PKR Youth vice-chief Dr Afif Bahardin said the protest was motivated by the organiser's actions, which were not "respectful or sensitive" to the residents of Guar Perahu.

"The incident could have been avoided if the organiser and the authorities (police) had taken pro-active steps to prevent it. They wouldn’t have organised such an event if they had understood the dynamics and the sensitivities of the local community," said Afif.

"It is not the first time that Umno and BN have misused public venues for their political events and to spread lies and slander about Anwar," he added.

Afif also said not only schools, but institutions of higher learning and polytechnics in Permatang Pauh and Seberang Perai have been used for such purposes, adding that students were also "forced" to attend these programmes.

NONE He urged the authorities to prohibit such activities in public premises, and demanded that they be "neutral" and not practise favouritism towards the BN in their actions or  decisions.

"The authorities should maintain harmony among communities, and not bow to pressure or orders from Umno or BN leaders," Afif added.

Related stories

Former PM explains why he allowed 'water villages'

Dr M: Kit Siang's move to Johor won't affect BN

No electoral pact with BN, says Waythamoorthy

Will Balik Pulau vote for an outsider as MP?

PKR doubtful of Asri's GE candidacy

Muhyiddin: All BN parties to blame for 2008 downfall

Najib resorting to Mahathirism as GE looms, say NGOs

We'll free nation from BN's shackles, says Guan Eng

'Battle for non-Chinese seat' challenge to Kit Siang