Combustible start to 'GAS 2' rally

(Malaysiakini) About 600 people gathered at the Dewan Hamzah in Klang today for the second Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) rally to campaign for MIC chief S Samy Vellu to step down.

In contrast to the previous rally, only a single backdrop adorned the stage inside the hall, reading “A New Dawn For Indians”.

From the very outset, trouble loomed in the horizon with the arrival of about 50 members of Klang MIC, who watched from the entrance.

An MIC leader had yesterday said that 5,000 MIC protesters would gather to counter the GAS rally. 50 eventually turned up.

A shouting match started about half-hour into the rally at 2pm between the gatecrashers and GAS supporters.

The confrontation threatened to get physical, and GAS leaders had to quickly get things under control by restraining their followers and chanting “Ahimsa!” (non-violence), following the non-violent civil disobedience espoused by Gandhi.

A GAS leader also held up a copy of a book on Gandhi's struggles as KP Samy led the crowd in the chant.

Don't say Samy!

As police officers persuaded the MIC supporters to leave, about 30 other police personnel ringed all entrances to the hall.

The MIC supporters initially refused, saying, "If we leave, everybody has to leave!"

They added that they will not tolerate anyone speaking against Samy Vellu.

"Don't you dare speak of MIC. Don't you dare utter Samy Vellu's name. Get out of this hall, stop this gathering," Bernama reported one of the supporters as saying.

The group is believed to have been led by Selangor MIC information chief L Siva Subramaniam, former Taman Maznah MIC branch chairman S Chandran and former Klang MIC division chief K Tharmalingam.

“If Datuk Seri Samy's name is brought up, we know what to do,” said another unidentified MIC supporter.

As tensions increased, and with the GAS crowd shouting for the police to throw out or arrest the MIC supporters, the police escorted several MIC supporters and their leaders out of the hall.

Some, however, stayed behind to observe the proceedings.

Amidst the uneasy compromise, former Petaling Jaya MIC leader V Subaramaniam - more popularly known as Bharat Maniam - in his speech thanked the police for protecting the participants of the peaceful gathering.

The police in return advised the leaders to limit their speeches and end early to avoid any incidents, timely advice as MIC Youth secretary C Sivarrajh tweeted that a group of MIC Youth members were heading for the rally from the party AGM.

Others who spoke included GAS leaders such as KP Samy (above, with arms crossed) and V Mugilan (far right) - who led the crowd to chant 'Samy out!' - former Hindraf leader-turned PKR member V Ganabatirau and businessman OMS Thiagarajan (above, with arms raised).

Hired thugs

Earlier during a lull in the confrontation at the rally, Mugilan and KP Samy had held a snap press conference and accused Samy Vellu of being a gangster who disrupts peaceful rallies using hired thugs.

As today's GAS rally concluded, participants and organisers were observed looking nervously out the hall, where a large crowd of angry-looking MIC supporters had gathered and were milling around.

Some of the MIC supporters, which by 3pm had increased to about 100, even tried to start a second shouting match with those inside the hall.

Fortunately no incident precipitated and the event concluded peacefully at 3pm as all dispersed under the watchful eyes of the police, who had cordoned off the groups to prevent contact.

Initially scheduled to have been held on June 13, the rally was postponed once due to 'security factors'.

'MIC may protest'

Selangor MIC Youth chief M Shanker Raj Ayenger lodged a report at the Klang police headquarters yesterday to protest the GAS gathering.

He had also said the wing may hold a protest against the GAS gathering, but in the end never showed up.

This followed another police report by Selangor MIC information chief L Siva Subramaniam against today's rally and the GAS leaders' plans to distribute anti-Samy VCDs and posters.

In his report, Siva said the distribution of VCDs and the gathering could be detrimental to the Indian community.

The first gathering, held on May 30 in Serdang, saw a lower-than-expected turnout but was still hailed as a success.