Opposition leaders lodged a police report at the Kangar police headquarters this afternoon against the arrival of busloads of what they alleged to be phantom voters for the Indera Kayangan by-election today.

Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali told reporters the police report was to ensure that opposition parties would not be blamed for bringing in the suspected phantom voters or for causing a 'riot'.

A similar incident which happened during the Lunas by-election in November 2000 resulted in a few Keadilan members and leaders being charged in court for rioting.

Azmin was referring to the six busloads of passengers who were stopped by police from entering the Indera Kayangan constituency this morning.

The passengers were detained and three of the buses escorted to the Kangar police station where police took down the travellers' statements.

The whereabouts of the other three buses and their passengers is unknown, though it was reported they were parked in another part of Kangar town.

Among those on the buses were Kedah state assembly speaker Badruddin Amiruldin and Taman Medan assemblyperson Norkhaila Jamaluddin. Both are Umno members.

Norkhaila, who was at the police station, had earlier told reporters that she had brought three busloads of people to do 'shopping'.

Azmin also questioned the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Information Minister Khalil Yaakob at the police station while the police were taking down statements from the bus passengers.

"Are they there to exert pressure on the police?" he asked.

Abdullah arrived at the station at about 4pm, while Khalil had been there earlier. Both senior Umno leaders were still inside the police station as at 6pm.

Holiday-makers

Meanwhile Abdullah, when met after coming out of the police station, denied knowledge of any phantom voters.

"I am not aware of any police reports regarding phantom voters," he said, adding that he was at the police station to inquire on matters pertaining to the by-election security aspects in Indera Kayangan.

"The police informed me that the people felt safe voting and that was why the turnout was good. They told me everything was under control."

Khalil however refused to comment when asked if their presence there had anything to do with the buses.

Kangar police chief Razali Shahlasom said that the passengers were not phantom voters but holiday-makers.

"Based on our findings, one bus stopped by at Kangar earlier today to allow its passengers to perform their prayers. However, someone threw stones at the bus and broke a window."

"The bus driver then drove the bus to the police station to lodge a report. We took statements from the driver and passengers and let them to continue to their destination," said Razali.

He said that he was not aware of any other buses, including the two buses, with passengers on board, parked at the police station.

"I did not know about that. I will investigate on that matter," he said.

Police officer assaulted

Azmin also confirmed that Keadilan leaders had tipped off police this morning about the buses on receiving information on them.

"We were informed of the arrival of these buses and we immediately contacted the police. After finding out the place where the buses were stopped, we went over there to see what was happening," said Azmin.

He said the police were already at the scene when they arrived.

Azmin also said that he had included in his police report that he had witnesses who saw a bus passenger assault a policeman.

In a scuffle which ensued after the buses were stopped, the policeman lost a tooth after being punched, said Azmin.

Commenting on this, Norkhaila said that the policeman was beaten because "he was not wearing his uniform and was standing with the opposition supporters".

At about 5pm, the passengers and the two Umno leaders who brought them to Perlis were allowed to go.

Reporters at the police station had no opportunity to interview them as the Federal Reserve Unit formed a blockade in front of the station to deter people from entering or leaving the station.

The passengers were later escorted by the FRU into their respective buses and escorted out of the town.

Meanwhile, Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim, in a RTM interview, said that the situation in Indera Kayangan had been quite tense.

"The opposition has been very abusive," added Shahidan, who is also the state Umno chief.

The by-election's vote counting is in the process as preliminary unconfirmed results indicate a victory for MCA's BN candidate Oui Ah Lan against Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong.

(Photos from Harakah online )