A PKR Youth leader said his members were forced to hold off a ceramah in Negri Sembilan last month after the village head, leading a group of armed men, threatened a “bloodbath”.

badrul hisham shaharin altantuya police questioning 290509 03 Rembau PKR division leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin ( left ), who will lead a ceramah tonight in Pekan Kuala Sawah, in the Rantau state constituency of Rembau, said his group had originally planned to hold the event on Feb 6.

In the midst of preparations on the evening of the ceramah, the Kampung Kuala Sawah village chief arrived at the venue at 6pm with a group of men armed with machetes, he said.

“When trouble broke out at the location, that is just 300m from the Kuala Sawah police station, several policemen showed up.

"After talking with the village chief and the armed men, the police left,” claimed Badrul Hisham in his blog today.

“The incident was not just an armed attack but a racist one as well, as the Umno-appointed village chief insulted and swore at some Indian members on duty, and even threatened a ‘bloodbath’,” he added.

Fearing for the safety of locals, who were keen on attending the ceramah, we decided to postpone it, said Badrul Hisham.

Police are indifferent

The youth leader said they have since lodged a police report on the incident and regret that no action has been taken so far.

He added the police have turned a blind eye because the village head was installed by the ruling government.

Badrul Hisham also reported that PKR Rembau committee member Selvam, living in the vicinity, has received threats through SMS allegedly circulated by the village head.

The SMS, circulating since last night, has called on Umno members to gather at Selvam’s house to destroy the opposition’s programme in the menteri besar’s territory, he said.

“Furthermore, we received a call from the police advising us to cancel our programme to avoid trouble.

“PKR is extremely disappointed with the attitude of the police... they are clearly reluctant to ensure peace and are siding with Umno’s gangsters.

“There is no more democracy in this country... it is increasingly falling under the law of the jungle,” he added.