PKR and Umno representatives lodged separate reports yesterday at the Simpang police station in Perak, as campaigning wound down in a blaze of controversy for the Bukit Gantang by-election.

bukit gantang doctored photos of ismail saffian in danok thailand 070409 BN candidate Ismail Saffian alleged that a doctored photo of him with bar-girls was being distributed, while a PKR canvasser claimed that her modesty had been outraged.

Both reports were lodged about the same time. There were tense moments as supporters of the rival camps gathered in front of the police station, but there were no incidents.

The PKR canvasser, 20, said in her report that individuals believed to be workers for a rival party, had illegally confined her and outraged her modesty.

nazar at voting center bukit gantang 070409 Her lawyer Nik Bahrum Nik Abdullah claimed the incident happened near an Umno operations centre in Simpang, at about 3pm, while the canvasser was distributing flyers promoting PAS candidate Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin (photo, in white shirt) .

In her report, the canvasser said that the assailants confiscated the flyers and then took her to the Umno operations centre, where she was assaulted and her pants were stripped off.

Nik Bahrum said her ordeal lasted about five minutes before several PKR members intervened. He added that the police have recorded statements from five individuals.

‘Photo doctored’

Soon after the canvasser lodged her police report, Ismail showed up to lodge a report over a poison-pen letter accusing him of being in the company of two women, believed to be Thai bar-girls.

bukit gantang by election bn candidate 240309 ismail saffian Ismail (left) said the flyers contained a forged letter to newly-appointed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, seeking forgiveness for involvement with the women.

He also claimed that flyers had a doctored photo of him with the women.

“(Slander) is not part of the Malaysian culture. It destroys reputations and families,” he told reporters at the police station.

Ismail also accused PAS of resorting to underhanded tactics to discredit him.

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