Fight, chairs flung at Umno's Seremban meeting

Fight, chairs flung at Umno's Seremban meeting

Mon, Nov 10, 2008 The New Straits Times

SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA - Two Umno delegates, including a woman, were injured after being hit by chairs flung during a scuffle which broke out at the Seremban Umno divisional meeting at the Tuanku Ja'afar Golf Club today.

The commotion began about 10.30am after division chief Datuk Ishak Ismail ended his opening speech when Sikamat branch chief, Datuk Md Yusof Harmain Shah stood up and questioned the legality of the meeting. Md Yusof claimed there was still doubt over the status of several branches under the division.

Md Yusof who is contesting the deputy division chief post against former Ampangan State Assemblyman, Datuk Zakaria Nordin, said nine branches had held their meetings, but were yet to be endorsed by the division, including six which were not allowed to send any delegate.

Division deputy permanent chairman Othman Senara then referred the matter to Supreme Council representative, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. Abdul Rahim said that the meeting could proceed with representatives from the nine branches sitting in as observers.

His reply was not accepted by observer Mohd Fadhil Kamaruddin who is the Umno Seri Aman branch chief, which was one of the nine branches not endorsed by the division and when he wanted to pursue the matter further, was approached by a group of men believed to be appointed by the division to oversee security matters.

The actions of these men upset several observers and delegates believed to be from two different camps - one supporting Ishak and the other division vice-chief Mohd Nor Awang who was earlier not allowed to contest the division top post.

The situation got out of control when observers and delegates, especially among the Youth began exchanging punches, pushing and throwing chairs which lasted for about 30 minutes despite calls from Othman to restore order.

The chaotic situation was brought under control by other delegates, observers and the men appointed to oversee security before Ishak, on the advise of Abdul Rahim, suggested that the meeting be postponed to another date to be set by the Supreme Counciil.

MEANWHILE, in KEPALA BATAS, Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed disappointment over the fight which erupted at the Seremban Umno division delegates' meeting.

Describing the incident as embarrassing, Abdullah said disclipinary actions could be taken against those involved in the incident.