Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today hit out at PAS leaders and supporters over the by-election violence in Galas, Kelantan earlier today.

He said reports he received from Galas indicated that the opposition Islamist party and its supporters were “main kasar” (playing rough) and had gone so far as to enter the BN camp to challenge supporters of the ruling coalition.

NONE“I made a call at 9am and was told that as early as a quarter past eight the situation was tense at some centres. We heard that PAS supporters from outside, especially from Terengganu, came and the numbers swelled to between 2,000 and 3,000 people, more than the number of voters.

“I don’t know (why they do it). Maybe they feel threatened, or it could be their culture,” he said at a press conference after a briefing by officials on the progress of the Batu Sapi by-election at the Sandakan police headquarters.

National news agency Bernama today reported that Kuala Krai Puteri Umno head Suzaini Adlina Mohd Shukri was injured in an alleged attacked by a PAS Muslimat member while wooing voters at SJK (C) Gua Musang.

NONESuzaini claimed that she was attacked from behind with a PAS flagpost in the 11.30am incident, causing injuries to her forehead and nose.

The alleged attack is the second act of violence that has punctuated the Galas by-election, the first being an altercation between PAS and BN supporters at SK Seri Wangi at around 8.30am.

“In this case, the PAS leadership should take responsibility because we want the election process to go smoothly,” Muhyiddin said.

Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chief, suggested that the election commission extend the cooling-off period between campaigning and polling day.

“Maybe the EC could look at extending the cooling-off period so that things can settle down, all those helping with the campaign have gone back and leave just the voters... we leave it to the voters with nobody to disturb them,” he said.