Saddiq claims he was nearly attacked by BN supporters

SEMENYIH: Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claimed he was nearly attacked by Barisan Nasional supporters shortly after the candidates for the by-election were announced.

He said he was walking to his car with three others at about 11.05am when a group of Barisan supporters jeered at him.

The Youth and Sports Minister claimed that Umno Youth exco member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papa­gomo, suddenly cornered him from a different route.

However, several policemen nearby managed to control the situation, he said.

He later lodged a police report at the Sungai Way police station.

He also posted videos of the incident on social media expressing his disappointment with “gangsterism”.

The videos showed what looked like a group of blue-clad individuals crowding Syed Saddiq while his offi­­­cers and police personnel intervened.

“If you want to curse me by calling me babi (pig), bangsat (rascal), bodoh (fool) or hancing (smelly), I can respect that because it’s your right. But if you go to the extent of physical assault, that’s too much!” he wrote on his Facebook page and expressed his thanks to the police and members of PAS’ Unit Amal who came to his aid.

Malaysians, however, showed no sympathy, saying that Syed Saddiq had provoked the opponent by deliberately walking past the area where the Barisan supporters had gathered.

Papagomo refuted Syed Saddiq’s allegations.

“I didn’t choke him. I merely hug­ged him lightly to protect him from the scuffle. Even though the ‘YB Menteri lolipop’ purposely provoked (the supporters), I had to ensure that no outward incident occurred.

“I didn’t imagine that he would lie like that. Even said that I threatened him. All I said was ‘Kau ni bodoh lah bro’ (you’re stupid, bro). Is the word bodoh considered a threat?” he said on his Facebook page yesterday.

In an unrelated incident, a Bari­san supporter from Kuala Tereng­ganu died while lending his support to the candidate.

Mamat Awang, 59, was part of the Barisan entourage waiting outside the nomination centre when he suddenly collapsed at about 9.20am.