Bersih slams violent, hooligan act at Muda event

SHAH ALAM - The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) strongly condemns any acts of violence and hooliganism toward political rivals.

The electoral watchdog steering committee said this in response to an incident involving a group of thugs who disrupted a dinner event held by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance Party (Muda) at the Yong Sheng Banquet Hall in Muar on Oct 22.

A similar interruption also happened in a ceramah by Muda on Oct 16.

Bersih reminded all parties that violence and hooliganism could be considered as an election offence under Section 4A of the Election Offences Act 1954 for promoting feelings of ill-will or hostility, aside from being an offence under the Penal Code.

If convicted, the person can be imprisoned for up to five years or fined up to RM10,000 or both.

Furthermore, it insisted that such violent and hooligan culture could not be part of a clean and free election culture.

“These acts are a form of negative campaigning and extreme provocation.

“Elections are for parties to contest based on ideas, policies, manifestos and actions to help the people.

“Such negative campaigning must be rejected by all Malaysians,” it said in a statement.

It also called on all peace-loving Malaysians who want a more positive and healthy campaign to strongly condemn and reject any form of violence and hooliganism regardless of which party they were from.

“Let's not be intimidated and go out to vote to reject political violence,” it added.

Earlier, it was reported that a group of masked men had disrupted Muda's 'Malam Mesra Muo' fundraiser dinner at Yong Sheng Banquet Hall while throwing firecrackers and bottles at the event.

Some were injured while some of the guests’ cars were damaged due to the incident.