Gangsters in ceramah: PKR ticks off MB, police

By Zefry Dahlan

SEREMBAN: Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Rembau took to task the Seremban police for arbitrarily refusing a permit for a ceramah scheduled for May 25.
According to Rembau PKR chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin, the police were forced to relent to pressure from Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohd Hasan.

Initially the ceramah was to be held at Kampung Nyatoh, Kuala Sawah, Rantau. Police refused a permit, saying that the location was too close to the main road.

The organisers then switched the location to Taman Bandar Ekar, Rantau. Once again, police refused a permit, this time giving a different reason.

"Seremban OCPD Saiful Azly Kamaruddin said a permit could not issued due to the presence of Indian gangsters and Pekida,” said Badrul.

“The OCPD said there was a chance that groups might retaliate as the location of the ceramah was within the menteri besar's constituency.

"The OCPD’s statement clearly shows that the menteri besar is supported by the Indian gangsters and Pekida. The letter from the police clearly states this,” he added.

Badrul said the letter clearly shows that the police were forced to bow to pressure from the menteri besar and his proxy of gangsters.

Badrul, who is also a PKR supreme council member and popularly known as Chegu Bard, challenged Mohd Hasan to a ‘fight’ with facts and not ‘strong-arm tactics’.

Meanwhile Mohd Taufek, the Rembau PAS chief said the police action shows there is no room for democracy, and the impression given by the police is that it is not in control.

"The impression by the police is that it has lost the control over the whole matter. This is worrisome as confidence in the force will be further eroded,” said Mohd Taufek.

Among the speakers who were scheduled to take to the stage at the ceremah were PAS’ crowd-puller Mohamad Sabu, Paroi state assemblyman Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani, Rahang state assemblyman MK Arumugam, PKR Youth exco Ginie Lim and Badrul Hisham.

In the press conference Badrul conceded to the pressure imposed by the police and announced that he is shifting the location of the ceramah to an isolated place which is more than 15 kilometers from original place.

With the same line-up of the speakers, the ceramah will be held in Taman Angsa Mas, Mambau at 8.30pm on 25th May 2010.