GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — A group of Umno members violently breached the gates of the Penang legislative assembly and stormed into the main hall in their bid to extract an apology from an assemblyman.
The group demanded to see Seri Delima state assemblyman RSN Rayer to demand that he apologise for allegedly uttering the words “Umno celaka” which translates as “Umno be damned”.
Rayer, who yesterday had called for the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his failure to find missing Malaysia Airline flight MH370, was not on the scene.
Security guards scrambled to get the intruders to leave the hall but they left only after being persuaded by officials.
The group of about 20 took their demonstration to an area just outside the gates of the state assembly, demanding that Rayer come out and apologise.
Jelutong Umno Youth chief Jasmin Nordin demanded that Rayer apologise and withdraw the statement in person.
“We do not want to disturb anyone else, all we want is Rayer to come out and apologise,” he said.
The group had started gathering at about 2pm and began jostling at the closed gates at about 2.15pm.
They managed to force the gates open despite attempts to stop them by the security guards at the state assembly.
Amongst those who managed to slip past the guards and march into the hall was Penang Perkasa Youth chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin who had also demanded that Rayer apologise.
The small group disrupted proceedings in the assembly when they marched in demanding that Rayer come out and apologise.
Yesterday, while debating the Penang Governor’s speech, Rayer had said “celaka, celaka, celaka Umno”.
State Opposition Leader Datuk Jahara Hamid had demanded that Rayer apologise, but he refused.
Later yesterday, a group had demonstrated outside the assembly, which led police to deploy its light strike force to guard the gates.
The group demanded that representatives be allowed in to demand that DAP and Rayer apologise, and refused to disperse as ordered.
Three were later allowed entry but exited after failing to meet with Rayer, who had already left.
Today, Penang Umno chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman issued a statement condemning Rayer for using such an offensive term in the assembly.
“Even though he is granted immunity in the state assembly, he should not be making baseless accusations using such words against Umno leaders who are not present to defend themselves,” he said.
The group continued to linger across the road from the hall and only dispersed at about 4pm.
They vowed to return early tomorrow morning to support the BN assemblymen in demanding for an apology from Rayer.
