TELUK INTAN Five months after becoming a national issue, the kangkung is still being used by Pakatan Rakyat to poke fun at BN, this time at the Teluk Intan by-election.

The vegetable sparked an argument between supporters of the two rival coalitions at about 10am today at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Bahagia polling station today, almost escalating into a brawl.

The two groups were only about five metres apart, separated by two four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The BN supporters were incensed when DAP supporters hoisted the humble vegetable and a RM1 note on a bamboo pole.

“Hoi! Take down that kangkung. DAP celaka (damn)” shouted a number of BN supporters.

In January, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak lamented that no one thanked the government when kangkung prices drop, and his statement has been turned into the butt of jokes ever since.

He was referring to the public anger against the rising cost of living.

EC versus journalists

Meanwhile, at the polling centre in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Azlan Shah, an argument erupted between media personnel and an Election Commission (EC) official.

The flare-up began when the EC official ordered the six journalists to leave, accusing them of “disturbing” voters. She was immediately confronted by two online news portal reporters.

The journalists explained that they were standing in front of the corridor waiting for the DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, who was to visit the polling centre.

A police officer came over to speak with the EC officer, who subsequently allowed the media personnel to stay.

Prior to that, several photographers complained that they were not allowed to take photos in the school.