KUCHING, July 7 — Boxed in by the crowd of over 50 hecklers who were throwing cups and bowls and overturning tables at his group during DAP’s “Kopitiam Dialog” event in Johor last week, Sarawak leader Mordi Bimol said he remembered fearing for his life as he was certain the group wanted to inflict harm.

Recounting the ordeal to Malay Mail Online today, Mordi said the most terrifying moment was when he and several other DAP leaders were trapped in the coffeeshop in Taman Megah Ria, Masai, Johor, for nearly 20 minutes, surrounded by their attackers.

“I have never experienced this kind of thing before,” said the 33-year-old Tasik Biru DAP branch chairman.

“They were very aggressive, dangerous and meant to cause harm to us,” he added, saying that although he was not hurt, he was still shaken and traumatised by the incident.

“But they held (Kluang MP) Liew Chin Tong by the throat, and one of them threw a bottle at a PAS guy Syed Othman. They also slapped him on the face,” Mordi added.

He said the men called him and another Sarawak DAP leader Thomas Tegong Laka “babi Sarawak” (Sarawak pigs) and shouted at them to return to Sarawak.

According to Mordi, the incident occurred before DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang stood to speak at the dialogue, disputing claims that it was Lim’s speech that had triggered the violence.

It was during Liew’s speech that the men turned unruly, he explained, noting that the leader had spoken about corruption and how Malaysia was now facing a new political phenomenon with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seemingly assuming the role of an opposition leader.

“These men were at the front and back doors of the coffeeshop, preventing us from escaping. They were shouting and screaming at us. They called Kit Siang and Chin Tong pigs and communists.

“Kit Siang was rather calm, but I was not,” he said, adding that he did not even dare to snap pictures of the men with his mobile phone out of fear that they would attack him.

He said some Dayaks living in Pasir Gudang and the police managed to escort them out of the coffeeshop and into their waiting cars.

He said the men punched the car when he was inside and one of even flashed the middle finger at him.

The “Kopitiam Dialogue”, Mordi explained, was organised by Johor Jaya DAP branch to allow party leaders to meet with Sarawakians and Sabahans living in Pasir Gudang. The owner of the coffeeshop, he added, is a Sarawakian.