Johor Bahru Umno division chief Shahrir Samad does not think that it is fair to blame Umno-BN over the fracas which took place in his constituency yesterday.

Commenting on the incident in Kampung Bakar Batu, Shahrir said he could only see what had occurred from a video posted on Stulang assemblyperson Andrew Chen Kah Eng’s Facebook page, as he was attending another function in his constituency at the time.

“What I can see is that the only party symbols were those of DAP, PKR and Bersatu on the shirts of Chen's group, which also included (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang.

“I cannot see any Umno or BN shirts being worn by the villagers.

“It is therefore unfair to blame Umno or BN for what happened at Kampung Bakar Batu last night.

“I cannot tell from the video who or what provoked the strong reaction from the villagers, who had just come from a religious activity at the village surau,” he told Malaysiakini.

Shahrir said he had been in the same area in the morning to attend groundbreaking ceremonies of a new religious school and a bridge connecting the area with nearby Majidee.

‘There are customs’

The veteran Umno lawmaker, meanwhile, offered advice to those who planned to visit his constituency in the future.

“There are customs to be followed when visiting a village,” he said.

The Pakatan Harapan meet and greet in Kampung Bakar Batu was cut short after being interrupted by angry locals.

Chen, who spoke at the Harapan event, had claimed the disruption was caused by Umno and BN members.

On Chen reportedly saying that the villagers who caused the ruckus were rude and uncouth, Shahrir said this was uncalled for, given that the former is an elected representative.

“But since he has had his say, I think I will let the matter rest there,” he said.

Shahrir also responded to Lim who had asked for his explanation on the matter.

“Let me just say that he will have the same free access as he had during the 13th general election campaign period. After all, his presence in Kampung Bakar Batu was at the invitation of Chen.

“Chen should have built up a strong sense of respect for his office after over four years of service to the voters. That respect and appreciation from the villagers as voters should be more than enough to make Lim feel welcome in Kampung Bakar Batu.”

Lim had called on Shahrir to state his stand on the programme’s disruption.

“This is why my first reaction last night to the regrettable event was to ask the long-standing MP for the area, Shahrir, who has been MP for Johor Bahru for six terms since 1978, for clarification, as I cannot imagine that Shahrir could be the mastermind or even countenance such an undemocratic event.

 “I have always known Shahrir as one of the Umno leaders who is more committed to the principles and practices of parliamentary democracy, and I will be most shocked if he has so changed as to mastermind or countenance what happened in Kampung Bakar Batu last night,” Lim said in a statement today.

Under pressure

In the incident last night, shouts could be heard in the background as Chen was speaking in a Facebook live press conference at an eatery in Kampung Bakar Batu.

Johor Harapan secretary Osman Sapian claimed he had previously faced similar harassment by youths wearing blue shirts, reasoning that they must be Umno or BN Youth members.

In a statement issued today, Chen (left in photo) said that the eatery stall owner was under “tremendous political pressure from Umno” for allowing it to be used for a Harapan event, calling the purported act of intimidation an abuse of power.

He also called on Shahrir to apologise for the incident.

A joint statement from Johor Harapan chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, Johor Bersatu chairperson Shahruddin Md Salleh, Johor Amanah chairperson Aminolhuda Hassan, Johor PKR chairperson Hassan Karim and Johor DAP chairperson Liew Chin Tong also demanded the same from Shahrir.

From the logos visible on their clothing, the statement read, the three youths who disrupted the meet and greet were believed to be from Umno-BN.

The Harapan leaders claimed that the youths could not have acted without approval from higher-ups in the party.

Meanwhile, DAP's Pengkalan Rinting assemblyperson Cheo Yee How who was present during the incident criticised Shahrir's response.

"I would like to know what customs did Harapan violate that warrants it to be chased out," he said.

Cheo pointed out that Harapan had obtained permission from the stall owner for the talk and questioned whether approval from the village chief was required for anyone visiting stalls.

He added that this was the second incident in two days.

"On Feb 8, when Pulai Harapan was holding a ceramah, which received police approval, at Kampung Pasir Tampoi, Johor Bahru, a group of people in blue BN T-shirts approached and tried to create chaos," he said.

Cheo called on Pulai MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who is also deputy home minister, to explain what he described as a case of gangsterism.