Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today tried to brush off any negative impact of the man-handling of an NGO member by an MCA supporter on the Galas by-election, saying he will leave it to the BN election machinery to decide.

However, Muhyiddin also came to MCA's defence, saying the incident NONE which saw deceased political aide Teoh Beng Hock's brother-in-law Soh Cher Hai shoved to the ground, was likely an act of "sabotage".

"I don't know the real situation, but like in any by-election, we have our strategies and I leave it to the election machinery led by Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah) to decide if it has any impact, and what steps should be taken.

"Maybe that specific party had done something without permission. They broke into (the event) and tried to sabotage the MCA initiative in their campaign, to result in disorder and to show that this is something negative," he said.

Speaking to reporters at the World Chinese Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Muhyiddin said the group had "ill-intentions" and was trying to "exploit the Teoh Beng Hock case, which has long been exploited by others".

Soh, who is the brother of Teoh's wife, was in Galas along with the late political aide's sister Lee Lan and an NGO called "Malaysians for Beng Hock".

NONE He suffered minor injuries after being pushed to the ground while trying to get the signature of MCA Senator Heng Seai Kie ( right ) on a petition calling for a Royal Commission of Investigation into deaths in custody.

Heng later claimed that she was rushing to another event and had offered an alternative time to meet Soh.

Four from the NGO, including Lee Lan, were also arrested at a separate event in Galas for allegedly committing an election offence. They were later released.