DAP condemns the violent actions and threats made by BN supporters against our election volunteer Ong Yew Thai on nomination day and would like to clarify that the ‘disturbance’ at Dewan Suarah in Kapit was not caused by Ong, as reported in the media.
On the morning of 25 April 2016, Ong had accompanied the DAP candidate for N56 Baleh, Agop Anak Linsong, to the nomination centre at Dewan Suarah, Kapit. As there was no signage nor Election Commission (EC) officers prohibiting Ong from entering the compound of Dewan Suarah, he then sat on the steps outside the hall waiting for Agop to complete the nomination process.
Around 9:50am, 2 men wearing BN shirts emerged from the hall and began shouting at Ong, “Why are you here to disturb us? This is an Iban area”.
One man placed his arm around Ong, while the other pulled at his shirt. Both men threatened Ong, saying “Do you know Iban people can kill?”
Ong apologised in an effort to calm the situation down. The police then came to separate Ong from the men. He requested for the police to take him to a room for his safety. As no room was available, Ong then locked himself in the washroom and waited there.
About 5-10 minutes later, a policeman Romi came to check on him. Ong asked to be brought to the police station to lodge a report and the police agreed to send him in a police van for his safety.
BN supporters shouted aggressively and even ‘assaulted’ the police van on the way out (video: https://www.facebook.com/CheoYeeHow/videos/1052625471493521/).
Ong lodged a police report and many police officers at the station sympathised with Ong for what had happened at the nomination centre.
DAP regrets that BN members and supporters are behaving in such an aggressive and ungentlemanly behaviour, and that the EC has done nothing to stop them from continuing their attacks on us.
There have been several other incidents in Baleh in the last three days, in which the DAP candidate and our members have been intimidated and harassed incessantly. They have also tried to prevent DAP from canvassing and distributing leaflets in the area.
This is outrageous and totally unacceptable, and DAP demands that caretaker CM Adenan Satem immediately directs all BN members and supporters to behave in a civilised and professional manner, as well as adhere to EC regulations and election laws.
As chairman of BN Sarawak, Adenan must be responsible for the actions of BN members and supporters during this election campaign period. DAP will hold him accountable should any untoward incidents take place between now and polling day on 7 May.