UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor has asked for police help in maintaining calm at the general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.
He said that he had made the request to Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as the crowds along the hallways had grown excited and difficult to control.
“I am saddened by what is happening and if they are doing anything wrong they should be picked up,” he told reporters when asked about the conduct of candidates’ supporters.
Delegates, VIP guests and media were hindered by campaigners and the scene at times turned ugly, with some resorting to aggressive shoving and pushing. As a result, some people almost fell or were nearly trampled upon.
The media also had trouble trying to get reactions from various leaders as PWTC security rudely handled pressmen by blocking access to the leaders, instead of moving the crowd.
At one point, police had to set up a police line on both sides of the walkway to allow guests and delegates to move freely.
Hundreds of Umno delegates were prevented from entering the main hall as security personnel kept the doors locked, saying that more time was needed to prepare the hall for balloting.
Those who found themselves in this predicament included veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Kelantan delegate Datuk Abdul Rahim Rahman and Penang delegate Datuk Musa Sheikh Kadir Fadzir, who were forced to use an alternative route to enter the hall.
At one point, some delegates knocked on the doors seeking entry, while others resorted to kicking the walls leading into the hall.
Umno updates: Cops called in to maintain calm
Updated: Thursday March 26, 2009 MYT 3:33:53 PM
2:30pm: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor says he has asked for police help in maintaining calm at the PWTC because the crowd was turning rowdy.
12.45pm: Polling for the posts of Umno deputy president, vice-presidents (3)and supreme council (25) seats begins. A total of 2,519 delegates will be voting and results are expected only after midnight.
12.40pm: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been officially declared the new Umno president. The announcement was made by Umno permanent chairman Tan Sri Onn Ismail at PWTC Thursday. Najib won the post uncontested on Nov 2 when he was the only one to get enough nominations to qualify to contest.
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