By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar today said her party has evidence that Umno members were behind the violence during an opposition rally in Lembah Pantai on Thursday.
Earlier today, Umno leaders accused PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of provoking Thursday night’s violence at the PKR rally, and denied responsibility for the incident.
But the Lembah Pantai MP today revealed that the party has recordings to disprove its rival’s accusation.
“We have proof, video evidence that Umno condoned and led attacks against the rakyat prior to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s condemnation of such thuggish behaviour,” Nurul Izzah told The Malaysian Insider.
Anwar had called Umno Youth members who were at a separate rally 100 metres away “sial” and “celaka” shortly after PKR’s event was attacked with stones, eggs and water bottles.
The Lembah Pantai MP stressed that Anwar’s remarks were made only after the PKR function was pelted with thrown objects, and that it was in no way a form of provocation.
She said PKR will now lodge a police report against Lembah Pantai Umno chief Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, as well as Datuk Mohamad Sazali Kamilan and Datuk Ibrahim Thamby Chik, respectively the division’s Youth and information chief
“The responses made by Raja Nong Chik’s reps are tantamount to an admission of guilt... as such, the three will be held accountable for their allegations,” said the PKR leader.
The Umno division leaders today also accused PKR of “exaggerating” the events from that night.
“On that night, some of our own (Umno members) were also hurt. The provocation was started by Anwar, who called (Lembah Pantai) Umno Youth ‘sial, celaka’.
“You have to understand, when provoked... anything can happen,” Mohamad Sazali told reporters.
Mohamad Sazali maintained his Umno Youth members as well as several youth groups were conducting a polls “simulation” exercise on that night when the PKR de facto leader began provoking them.
“We can’t even accuse... there were a lot of people... [we don’t know who threw what and at whom]. We don’t want to accuse,” Ibrahim added.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has since condemned the violence and denied that any instruction was given to Umno Youth members to disrupt the ceramah.
Nurul Izzah is currently the Lembah Pantai MP. She won the seat narrowly from Umno Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
The first-term lawmaker is expected to defend the constituency and will likely face Raja Nong Chik in the coming general election.