BUKIT MERTAJAM, Jan 19 — A peaceful gathering here today over the ‘kangkung’ issue became tense at one moment when a motorcyclist hurled abusive remarks at the 300 people.
Several people in the gathering, organised by the Bukit Mertajam Umno Division in protest against Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon’s stuffing of kangkung into the mouth of an effigy resembling the prime minister, chased the motorcyclist to beat him up.
However, police intervened and arrested the man, in his late 30’s, for questioning.
The incident happened at about 10.30am in front of the Machang Bubuk assemblyman’s service centre in Alma here.
Penang Umno Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said the man had angered the members of the gathering.
“I thank the police for their quick intervention before anything untoward happened,” he said.
Musa, who is also Bukit Mertajam Umno head, said the gathering was organised to protest against Lee’s insult of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by stuffing kangkung into the mouth of an effigy representing the prime minister last Wednesday.
A photograph of Lee’s action was uploaded onto a Twitter account and elicited various comments from the public.
Najib had used the kangkung as an example when talking about the prices of goods recently and certain quarters started making fun of the matter.
Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak, who participated in today’s gathering, said Lee should instead be helping the roadside traders in his constituency who were facing eviction by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. — Bernama
