Pakatan lodges report against Negri MB over viral video

SEREMBAN: The state Pakatan Harapan has lodged two police reports against Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan over what it believes was an incitement to violence.

The first report was lodged by Kuala Pilah Pakatan chief Kamarulzaman Kamdias, claiming that the words used by Mohamad during an Umno event in Rantau Eco Park on Monday were provocative.

Kamarulzaman in his report said that Mohamad should not have uttered such words, which called on Umno Youth members to flip tables at coffeeshops in their bid to counter lies and slander by the Opposition.

"As Mentri Besar, he should not be using such words.

"He can be held responsible if there is chaos or fights during the general election," he said, adding that the police should investigate the matter.

In a video clip that has since gone viral, Mohamad in his speech urged members to actively counter slanderous allegations made by the Opposition.

He apparently said they should overturn tables at such coffeeshops and that he would bail them out if they were arrested by the police.

In a second report, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia member Mohd Firdaus Mohd Rashid also urged the police to probe the matter.

"The police should probe this as the MB seems to be giving approval to youths to behave like gangsters," he said.

Mohamad when met later said those accusing him of promoting gangsterism had got it all wrong.

He said those who felt that he was advocating violence should have looked at his body language at the event and consider the fact that he spoke in the open.

"It was only a figure of speech when I told them that they should go ahead and flip tables at coffeeshops when rebutting slander and lies spread by Opposition supporters.

"The event was about Gempur (attack) Pemuda and I wanted them to counter the Opposition everywhere, including on social media.

"I merely wanted them to get our election machinery in their respective areas moving and that they should not sit quietly while our opponents have a field day saying what they want against us," he said.

Mohamad, however, apologised to those who were offended by his remarks.

"Some probably feel that the way I presented myself was wrong. And to them, I sincerely apologise," he said, adding that he had never condoned violence.

Mohamad said he was also sad that some of his critics had blown the matter out of proportion.