PENANG Four men were injured after a scuffle broke out between BN supporters and a group of motorcyclists in Seberang Jaya yesterday evening, according to police.

According to state police general elections spokesperson Roslee Chik, the two groups bumped into each other about 6.30pm along Jalan Siakap, Seberang Jaya.

NONE Roslee said the 10 motorcycles carrying 18 riders surrounded the pick-up truck of BN Seberang Jaya candidate Muhammad Nasir Abdullah ( right ).

He added that the motorcyclists were Pakatan Rakyat supporters but when asked if they were carrying party flags and wearing t-shirts, Roslee said he was uncertain.

"We were told by our men on the ground," he said.

Nasir, at that time, was not in the vehicle - a black Nisan Frontier - which was carrying three persons, including the driver of the car decorated with BN symbols.

The bikers horned and made a lot of noise, but did not come looking for trouble, he added.

"Unable to move further and in order to escape the situation, the pick-up truck drove forward and hit the bikers," Roslee said when contacted.

Helmets become tools of destruction

"As a result four fell from their bikes and sustained light injuries," he added.

The other bikers chased the vehicle to Lorong Tenggiri where Nasir's home is located, he said.

The bikers then took out their helmets and hit the car, damaging the windscreen and side windows, he said.

When asked if iron rods were use to hit the car, he said "we are not certain".

NONE A group of Light Strike Force and police personnel who were in the vicinity managed to defuse the fracas, Roslee added.

"The two groups were then advised to lodge police reports," he said.

Roslee said the case is being probed under section 43 of the Road Transport Act for dangerous driving and section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief.

As a result of this, police said they are stepping up security within the state.

Seberang Jaya state seat is being hotly contested by Nasir, PKR's Dr Afif Bahardin and Independent Shamsut Tabrej.

Nasir and Afif were unavailable for comment.

Permatang Pauh PKR: Accusations baseless

Meanwhile, Permatang Pauh PKR division vice-chairperson Abdul Jalil Che Ros described the incident as a hit and run.

He claimed there had been a slight misunderstanding between the two groups, which was soon resolved, but said the pick-up truck suddenly accelerated and knocked into several motorcycles.

Following the incident, the motorcyclists chased to the car to Nasir’s operations centre to ask those inside it to lodge a police report, but an individual came out to attack one of them with a hoe, he alleged at a press conference in Kubang Semang today.

"They (motorcyclists) did not surround the car as reported by the media. They stopped along the narrow road.

"They were not aware of the broken windscreen and windows," he claimed, adding as such, accusation the group smashed them were “baseless”.

PKR members Fakhrul Izzat, 22, suffered a broken right leg while his friend Ahmad Syahir, 22, sprained his right ankle, while four police reports have been lodged at the Seberang Jaya police station.