PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has pointed the finger at Umno for last weekend's violence which rocked Kuala Terengganu.

The former Terengganu menteri besar accused the ruling party of working in cahoots with the police in what has been described as a clash between opposition supporters and the police.

The violence, which left several people, including policemen, injured, erupted in Pantai Batu Buruk following the police's refusal to grant a permit for a public forum. The forum was organised by the opposition-backed election watchdog Bersih.

Two men also suffered gunshot wounds after a police personnel fired four shots . The police claimed that he had acted in self-defence but an eyewitness provided a different account .

"I am certain of the involvement of a third party," stressed Hadi during an interview with Malaysiakini at his residence in Kuala Terengganu last week.

"This third party had planned to worsen things so that they could take advantage of the situation," he added.

According to Hadi, he was sure that the third party was Umno. "We obtained information that there was a plan to cause trouble so that it becomes an issue," he alleged.

Until that fateful Saturday night, the PAS president, who is former Terengganu mentri besar, said the party's relationship with the state police had been good.

Two weeks before the incident, the PAS leadership and senior state police officials, including Terengganu police chief SAC I Ayub Yaakob, held a meeting.

"We received good cooperation from the police. This is why I am sure that the incident at Batu Buruk was planned separately," said Hadi.

"That is why we are calling for an independent investigation to find out what actually happened and to discover the hidden hand behind all this," he added.

Growing influence

Hadi claimed that the government, especially Umno, was concerned about the opposition party's growing influence in the state. PAS had captured Terengganu in the 1999 elections but the state fell into the hands of Umno again in 2004.

"I predicted that they (the government) would do something because they were worried. (In Rusila, two weeks before) thousands had gathered and cars were parked for miles. That is why they were worried. So the forum organised by Bersih became the target for this plan," he said.

Hadi expressed sadness that the alleged Umno plan also involved police officers, but on the same note, added, "You must understand that not all police officers are with the Barisan (Nasional) government. There are police officers who are PAS members. So it is easy for us to obtain information."

The PAS president claimed that upon receiving information that those present at Batu Buruk would be 'provoked', PAS members were advised not to start any trouble.

"I was told that the trouble started when one person, who was among the crowd, started shouting in a provocative manner," he said, alluding that this could be an agent provocateur .

As for the permit, he said the application was submitted a week before.

"We didn't get an answer until Thursday. Friday and Saturday are holidays (in Terengganu). We were only informed at the last minute about the police's decision not to approve the permit. The speakers had already arrived. Many people had already gathered," he added.

Flag burning

On the much publicised flag-burning incidents, Hadi claimed that it was the work of an unidentified group.

"When we were informed (of the tensions), alhamdulillah (thank God), we could control the situation. When the police retreated, the youths (PAS members) also retreated. The situation was calm.

"After we retreated, another group came in and caused a ruckus and destroyed public property. Then, there were people who came and burnt the flags. The police did not take any action. Why didn't they act at the time?" he asked.

The police's failure to act, he added, had raised suspicion towards the police. "It made us lose faith in the police and that is why I proposed for an independent commission to investigate the matter."

Hadi also took a swipe at Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over his reaction to the clash. The premier had condemned the opposition for the incident.

"The prime minister did not behave like the country's leader. He should have come out with a statement that was wise. Instead of this, he made a direct political accusation and pointed his finger at PAS," he said.

"It (the clash) is an act which I believe that Umno would repeat as the election approaches. There would be additional cast of actors," he claimed.

Media rapped

Hadi also accused the media of being a party to the alleged acts of 'tyranny' perpetuated by the ruling government.

"I call on the media not to play up the issue for Umno. We (PAS) are an Islamic party with dignity and we would never surrender to tyranny," he said.

"Tyranny does not end with the use of tear gas and live bullets. It includes the tyranny of the media. The statements by PAS were not published," he added.

Despite the negative publicity, Hadi was confident that the party's influence would increase as a result of the Batu Buruk incident.

"We are confident that the public cannot be cheated forever, especially the educated young who can think critically," he noted.

On how PAS plans to respond to the alleged underhand tactics being employed by their rival, Hadi replied: "We don't want cheap democracy. We want proper democracy.

"When the government is immoral, it will fall by itself in a shameful way. We would always use legal and moral means," he added.

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