PAS election workers in the Bangi have taken measures to protect themselves after some of them were beaten up on Monday by several men whom they claimed were Umno supporters, PAS' Bangi state seat candidate Dr Shafie Abu Bakar says.

Shafie said today the incident occurred at the Bandar Baru Bangi Section 4 roundabout at around midnight when the PAS workers were putting up their party's posters and banners.

"The attackers mistakenly thought our workers - who were pasting posters onto a large pole - were trying to tear away BN posters which stuck onto the same pole," says Shafie adding that a scuffle broke out resulting in nine of the PAS workers having to seek treatment at a nearby clinic.

Shafie, who said he went to the scene upon receiving a call, also claimed that the attackers smashed the windscreen of a PAS worker's car.

"It's not our way to fight opponent party members as most PAS workers are well-educated," says Shafie.

Bangi is home to several institutions of higher learning institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur.

"We understand the BN is trying hard to win this constituency and win the support of the intellectuals. This is very obvious as Selangor BN chief Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has frequently visited this area," adds Shafie.

Shafie, a former UKM lecturer, said that both PAS and BN workers later lodged police reports at the Bandar Baru Bangi and Kajang police stations.

A PAS worker said that they were now moving about in a larger group to safeguard themselves. "We do not want such ugly incidents to happen and we want the election to be carried out in a clean and safe manner," he said.

Intense rivalry

Bangi is a new state seat under the Serdang parliamentary constituency following the recent delineation exercise. Shafie is in a straight fight with the BN candidate Dr Amran Kasimin, a former UKM associate professor.

There has been an intense rivalry between Umno and PAS members in Bandar Baru Bangi following the demolition of the Surau Jubli Perak prayer hall last year, which the government claimed had been misused by PAS for 'militant activities.'

During a protest demonstration against the tearing down of the surau, police arrested several PAS members.

A new surau has been built near the Jubli Perak flats but some of its committee members are being removed so "as to dilute PAS' influence," a resident says.