Thugs in Penang disrupt vigil for Adam Adli

A candlelight vigil by some 30 people in front of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) showing solidarity with detained student Adam Adli Abdul Halim was disrupted by a rowdy group last night.

The thugs, numbering about 10, shoved a student and Suaram coordinator Sean Ho and hit two journalists on their arms during the vigil.

Police Special Branch officers and Universiti Sains Malaysia security personnel were present, but they did not take any action against the thugs.

The vigil began about 8.20pm with the singing of the Negaraku , followed by several brief talks given by participants.

The protesters were shouted at by the rowdy gang which turned up soon after the vigil began, but they stopped shouting when Penang Deputy Chief MInister I Rashid Hasnon delivered his speech.

One of the more vociferous men in the rowdy gang, who wore a helmet and an orange shirt with the 1Malaysia logo, shouted at the people in support of Adam to go home, since Pakatan Rakyat had already won Penang.

"Do not disturb our peaceful life here," he shouted.

Ho talked to the man and tried to calm him down, but he shouted, "I am a local person, don't try to chase me away".

He calmed down when Rashid ( right in photo ) begin to address the crowd.

Minutes later, Parti Sosialis Malaysia leader Choo Chon Kai in his talk said the authorities could arrest Adam, but that more like him would rise and stand up to the struggle.

Another member of the thuggish gang then used a loudhailer and condemned the protesters for "violating the law and disturbing other people's lives".

He described the university students involved in the vigil as "trouble-makers" who do not appreciate the education opportunities provided by the BN government.

Former Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Dahlan was among those spotted asking the protesters to leave.

'Respect the people's right to assemble'

Choo tried to talk to the group, asking them to respect the people's right to assemble, but they turned aggressive and started shooing and pushing away those holding the vigil.

Two male journalists, one from Malaysiakini and the other from Nanyang Siang Pau , were hit on their arms when taking pictures of the incident.

The Malaysiakini journalist lodged a report at the Sungai Nibong police station late last night.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari condemned the incident, saying his assistant Rozaimin Alias - who was among the protesters - had been roughly shoved by the hostile group.

Others who spoke during the vigil were Dema organising secretary Yong Kin Yin, USM Student Action Council representative Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rahim and Persatuan Progresif India Malaysia representative Kumaresan Arumugam.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. We urge the government to allow these young people to voice their views," Rashid said in his speech.

Those in the vigil took a break during the Azan period for their Muslim colleagues to pray.

Several participants complained to Malaysiakini that the thugs ridiculed them as "stupid Malays who worked with the Chinese, who asked them to eat s**t".

Show of support outside Jinjang police station

In Selangor last night, some 400 activists gathered outside the Jinjang police station to show support for Adam, who is being held in a lock-up there.

Although not feeling well, Adam's father Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid also attended the candlelight vigil.

In his speech, Halim thanked the great support shown to his son by members of the public.

“Somebody said, I am very strong, but I am not strong. In fact, I only borrowed the strength from you all,” he said.

Halim ( left ) said he met Adam in the detention centre two days ago, for about 15 minutes, and Adam wanted him to pass a message to his comrades outside.

“He told me, ‘Bapak, I will not surrender. I also urge my friends outside to be strong and continue to fight. Do not surrender’.”

Halim also lambasted the situation in the country, saying that real democracy did not exist.

The candlelight vigil started at 8.15pm and lasted about two hours. Student leaders and political party leaders attended, including Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasen, PSM secretary-general Arulchelvan and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Guan Eng to write to police chief

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would write to police chief Abdul Rahman Hanafi to act immediately on the thugs.

“It is sad that police Special Branch officers and USM security guards were around but did not take any action to prevent thuggish behaviour,” said Lim ( left ).

Later, in a press conference, Zairil said violent incidents against Pakatan supporters had been on the rise even before the general election.

“We are uncertain if last night’s provocation was planned but we have lodged police reports,” said Zairil.

“We have the evidence, including the number plates of the thugs who came to the scene last night, about 15 of them,” he added.

“If no action is taken, it shows that the police are practising selective prosecution in arresting Adam but not those whom we identified as causing violence,” he stressed.

Rozaimin said he was able to identify the face of a former Umno leader who often appear in such peaceful rallies to cause trouble, saying, “They are out to attack students who are not able to fight back”.

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would act sternly against peaceful protesters.

“What about these thugs who disrupt peaceful assemblies?” he asked.

“Since one of the Umno Youth leaders was among the rowdy crowd last night, we would like to ask the new Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin ( right ) what is his stand on this?” asked Sim.

“If his former Umno Youth chief can act like a thug, how can he be a role model to the youths?” Sim further queried.

In an immediate response, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kon Meng urged the organisers of the event to find a "more appropriate place" to hold their protest instead of doing it in front of USM.

"There is always a better venue and proper platform to express their frustrations and anger," Gan said at a press conference after visiting the Bukit Jambul shopping complex today.

"There would be a chaotic situation, especially when two (opposing) groups come across (each other)," he added, when asked about the incident last night.

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