Balik! Anti-Sedition Act activists chased away

 

An anti-Sedition Act rally organised by Suaram was disrupted by a group of men supporting the legislation, who shouted at the activists, telling them to leave.

"Balik! Balik!" they shouted and shoved the protesters, whom they outnumbered.

Members of the group included those from Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang and Umno Youth members from Tanjong, who wore T-shirts with the words, 'Pertahankan Akta Hasutan' (Defend the Sedition Act).

Among those who were chased away from Padang Kota were Suaram's Ong Jing Cheng, Prema Devaraj and Bersih' Toh Kin Woon.

Jing Cheng was harassed the worst, with a scuffle nearly breaking out.

A member of the angry mob hurled abuses at Jing Cheng, calling him, “Cina yang paling jahat di Malaysia.”

Before the activists were chased away, a spokesperson from Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang used a loud hailer and proclaimed that "as long as the group is around, the Sedition Act will continue."

Later after the incident ended, the group thanked their supporters who reportedly came from Perak and Kedah.

As the group were shouting, heckling and chasing the activists away, several policemen followed to prevent further altercation but did not stop the troublemakers.

When the mob hurled abuses at Jing Cheng, calling him names like “babi”, the policeman asked them to stop.

The angry mob also chased away by two passers-by, shouting among others, "It's the Jews! It's the Jews!"

Aliran spokesperson Anil Netto, who was at the scene, expressed disappointment over the incident.

"It seems this group now owns the public space and they dictate who speaks.

"This is not fair as this is public space. The authorities are supposed to protect the space and not allow others to chase people away," he said.

Speakers Square, where the incident took place, has been designated as a public place for free speech by the Penang government in May 2010.