An anti-Sedition Act rally organised by Suaram was disrupted by a group of men supporting the legislation, who shouted at the activists, telling them to leave.

 

" Balik ! Balik ! (go home)" they shouted and shoved the protesters, whom they outnumbered, out of the field at the Esplanade.

 

Members of the group included those from Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang and Umno Youth members from Tanjung who wore T-shirts with the words, " Pertahankan Akta Hasutan " (Defend the Sedition Act).

 

Among those who were chased away from Padang Kota were Suaram's Ong Jing Cheng, Prema Devaraj and Bersih' Toh Kin Woon.

 

Jing Cheng was harassed the worst with a scuffle nearly breaking out.

 

A member of the angry mob hurled abuses at Jing Cheng calling him "Cina yang paling jahat di Malaysia.

 

" Balik Cina...sini punya orang Cina, Melayu dan India semua baik-baik (Go back to China, the races here get along fine)," the man shouted.

 

Before the activists were chased away, a spokesperson from Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang used a loud hailer and proclaimed, "as long as we are alive, the Sedition Act will continue."

'Disappointing behaviour'

 

Later after the incident ended, the group thanked their supporters who reportedly came from Perak and Kedah.

 

As the group were shouting, heckling and chasing the activists away, several policemen followed to prevent further altercation but did not stop the troublemakers.

 

When the mob hurled abuses at Jing Cheng, calling him names like " babi " (pig), the policeman asked them to stop but did not stop the harassment.

 

The angry mob also chased away two passers-by, shouting among others, "It's the Jews! It's the Jews!"

 

Aliran spokesperson Anil Netto, who was at the scene, expressed disappointment over the incident.

 

"It seems this group now owns the public space and they dictate who speaks.

 

"This is not fair as this is public space. The authorities are supposed to protect the space and not allow others to chase people away," he said.

 

Speakers Square, where the incident took place, has been designated as a public place for free speech by the Penang government in May 2010.