Nine buses stopped by PAS in Terengganu
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 07, 2008
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

Nine buses were stopped in Terengganu this morning by supporters of a political party on suspicion these were ferrying phantom voters for the general election tomorrow.
MCPX

According to state police chief Ayub Yaakob, five buses had stopped at Masjid Terapong in Kuala Ibai, about six kilometres from Kuala Terengganu, when about 150 supporters of the party surrounded the vehicles and prevented them from leaving.

Ayub did not say which party he was referring to, but it is believed they were from PAS.

phantom votersAll of the passengers were students, Ayub said further. He did not disclose also where they had come from or their destination.

Upon being alerted of the situation at about 5 am, about 80 police personnel rushed to Masjid Terapong and escorted the convoy to “a safe place”, which Malaysiakini understands was the state government building Wisma Darul Iman in Kuala Terengganu.  

Police reports were subsequently lodged by two of the bus drivers who said the windscreens of their vehicles had been damaged. It is believed rocks were thrown at the buses by unidentified persons in the crowd surrounding the vehicles, said Ayub.

Elsewhere, police were alerted regarding the arrival of another four buses, also containing students, that were then in Marang, about 20km from Kuala Terengganu.

These were also escorted to Wisma Darul Iman.

Buses escorted out

As of press time, all the buses have been escorted by police vehicles in batches out of Kuala Terengganu. No arrests have been made over the incident.

“All of the students are safe,” said Ayub when contacted.

Commenting on the incident, Ayub advised the public not to take matters in their own hands but lodge police reports upon suspecting anything wrong as only the police can make arrests.

He also urged leaders of political parties to ensure that their followers do not cause any disturbances.

“If you are unhappy, lodge a police report,” said Ayub, who also reminded the public not to hold illegal gatherings on polling day.

More on the way

mustafa ali 01Meanwhile, PAS state commissioner Mustafa Ali has claimed there are 190 buses and 2,000 cars ferrying phantom voters were on their way towards Terengganu and Kelantan to ensure a victory for Barisan Nasional (BN).

The project to bring in the voters is conducted by one travel agency engaged by a foundation based in Terengganu, said Mustafa in a press conference held earlier today.

Mustafa claimed a large number of the passengers were local and foreign students. Also on the same buses, however, were Indonesian and Burmese workers, he said further.

According to him, the passengers are currently stationed in various places in Terengganu.

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