Syed Saddiq thanks PAS for coming to his aid

(FMT) – Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claims he was “attacked” (“diserang”) by Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters as he was leaving the nomination centre for the Semenyih by-election today.

The PPBM Youth chief said he was walking to his car shortly after leaving the Dewan Seri Cempaka here when he was attacked and cursed at by a group of BN supporters who were outside.

“When I was cursed at, I only gave them salam and continued to walk forward but they chased after me,” he claimed.

“When attacked, the police nearby came to help. PAS’ Unit Amal also came to help because they saw the reactions of some of the BN supporters.”

In a statement, Syed Saddiq thanked the police and the volunteer corps from PAS (Unit Amal) for rushing to his aid, saying without them, he does not know what would have happened to him.

He said he would respect a person’s right to call him names and derogatory terms like “stupid” or “pig”, but said when it came to a physical confrontation, it crossed the line. “That’s too much,” he said.

“This incident reminds me of why I entered politics. Not to fight, but to continue serving,” the Muar MP said, pointing out that he was sad the culture of “gangsterism” is still the trend in Malaysian society.

“I want to be a ‘Yang Berkhidmat’ (YB) who serves all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion and political ideologies. Because Malaysia unites us all. May Allah open up their hearts and minds.”

Kajang police chief Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof told reporters here that he was aware of Syed Saddiq’s claim of being attacked, but has yet to receive a police report on the matter.

Only when a report is lodged will the police be able to take action and begin investigations, he said.

Syed Saddiq, who was present alongside a number of Pakatan Harapan leaders in support of the PPBM candidate in the by-election, said he will make a police report on this today at 2pm at the Sungai Way police station.

Those contesting in the by-election are PPBM’s Aiman Zainali, 30, Umno’s Zakaria Hanafi, 58, PSM’s Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul, 25, and independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng, 56, better known as the “10 sen man”.

The by-election is the sixth to be held in the country since GE14, after the by-elections for the Sungai Kandis, Seri Setia and Balakong state seats in Selangor and the Cameron Highlands and Port Dickson parliamentary seats in Pahang and Negeri Sembilan.

Syed Saddiq posted a video of the confrontation on his Facebook page where he is briefly seen being pushed by men clad in red shirts — believed to be PH supporters — before walking away.

At one point, he was surrounded by a swarm of men in blue shirts — BN’s official colour — who were seen throwing insults at him.