A group claiming to represent army veterans that tried to protest near an opposition ceramah venue in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, tonight was repelled by Pakatan Rakyat supporters.

Trouble began when the 200-strong group - calling itself Gerakan Memartabatkan Pejuang Negara (Movement to honour national heroes) - tried to march to the ceramah venue at Kampung Pulau Bintongan.

The group wanted to hold a demonstration against PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who was the star speaker at the event.

NONE But as the marchers approached the venue, they were confronted by the Pakatan supporters who tried to chase them away.

“Don’t come and kacau (disturb) our event!” cried one of the Pakatan supporters.

By 9.30pm, tempers came to a boil and some individuals from both camps began trading blows.

The confrontation lasted for about 30 minutes before Rembau PKR division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin managed to broker a deal with the protesters.

The protesters were adamant that they be allowed to approach Mohamad to hand him their protest note.

Second protest in two weeks

Eventually, the Pakatan crowd agreed to allow two protesters to enter the venue and hand over the note.

NONE The protesters claimed to represent former servicemen who were unhappy with Mohamad’s speech in Penang on Aug 21.

            

In his speech, Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, had questioned the official account on leftist insurgent Mat Indera’s role in the 1950 guerrilla attack on the Bukit Kepong police station.

Last month, Mohamad was charged with criminal defamation for the speech.

Following this, Mohamad had spoken at a ceramah in Ampangan, Seremban, on Sept 24, which was disrupted by Malay rights pressure group Perkasa.

Like the ceramah tonight, there was also a round of fracas that left at least two PAS supporters and one Perkasa supporter injured.

Negeri Sembilan Perkasa has warned of more protests should Mohamad appear on more ceramah stages in the state.