Afif and Tian Chua face angry crowds

GEORGE TOWN: PKR members aligned to former deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali are now caught in “no-man’s land” after he joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

One of them is Penang state exco member Dr Afif Bahardin, who is said to be the blue-eyed boy of Azmin and a former PKR deputy youth chief.

A video of him being heckled and called a traitor by disgruntled PKR members has gone viral yesterday.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua was also seen in another video being assaulted by party members as he was escorted out of his car.

The incident happened after the central leadership council meeting in Petaling Jaya to discuss the current political crisis.

When asked on Dr Afif’s fate, PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim said: “Please tell him that we, at the board here, still love him.”

State PKR chief and Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said the party leadership would seriously look into the actions taken by members who did not toe the party line.

“But first, we need to focus our attention on solving the crisis at the federal level, ” he added.

On Saturday, some 2,500 PKR members from nine branches in Penang allegedly quit the party, citing a loss of confidence in the party leadership.

Jelutong PKR chairman Shaharudin Mohd Sharif made this claim at a press conference in Bayan Baru.

He was accompanied by Bagan PKR chairman Alan Oh, Bukit Gelugor PKR chairman Mustaqim Md Daud, Batu Kawan PKR chairman Lim Chee Leong, Tasek Gelugor PKR Wanita chief Nafizah Ismail and PKR Bayan Baru member M. Navalingam.

Branch representatives who were not present at the press conference were from Bukit Mertajam, Tanjung and Nibong Tebal.

Shaharudin said the decision was made after they claimed that party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim only favoured certain groups in the party and sidelined those who took part in the Reformasi struggle since 20 years ago.

Oh also expressed his frustration not only at the state PKR leadership, but also at the central leadership.

“In terms of assistance, we get nothing. That’s why we are quitting the party. More members will follow us soon, ” he claimed.

Meanwhile, police have arrested one suspect over the assault of Tian Chua.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said they were investigating the case under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.

“We have arrested one suspect so far and expect to pick up more later, ” he said.

ACP Nik Ezanee said he had spoken to Tian Chua who told him that he did not want to proceed with the case, but his representative lodged a police report.

“He is well. A police report has been lodged on rioting and we will continue our investigations, ” he said.

Tian Chua was assaulted by disgruntled party members at about 1.30pm.

He was escorted to a car parked nearby but an angry group of people followed and continued shouting abuse at him.

Tian Chua, who was visibly distraught, engaged in a shouting match with them as a water bottle was thrown at him, hitting him on his forehead.

He was also smacked on the back of his head as he made his way to his car.

Azmin condemned the physical assault on Tian Chua, who is one of the party’s founding members and a respected social activist.

“The attack against the PKR vice-president based on mere differences in views is a reflection of how the party has been overcome by the culture of gangsterism and violence.

“This incident is proof how a party that was formed to defend the people has been hijacked by those wearing the masks of reformation and making the agenda of worshipping a dictator as the basis of their struggle, ” he said in a statement.

He said a political party, which was formed for justice and democracy, should have employed rational means and debates based on facts.

“When a party is possessed by elements of gangsterism and allowed to fester by its leadership, it means the party is on the verge of collapse.

“I urge everyone to reject the culture of gangsterism and violence in politics. Instead, we should work towards strengthening the spirit of debating rationally and negotiation to solve problems, ” Azmin said.